With a proposed 5 percent increase from Waste Pro for residential garbage collection in Flomaton the town council voted twice before agreeing to pass a 2 percent increase along to customers and absorbing the other 3 percent.
The rate increase, which will go into effect this month, will raise residential rates from $18.99 per month to $19.37 per month.
Councilwoman Lillian Dean suggested the town eat the increase and look at any increases next year. The town had already budgeted to eat 3 percent of any increase.
Councilwoman Anna Lee said there would not be another business that wouldn't pass the increase on to their customers.
Dean made the motion for the town to absorb the 2 percent hike. The motion failed on a 3-3 vote with Charlie Reardon, Dean, and Wagner voting yes, and Mayor Jim Johnson, Lee and Councilman Roger Adkinson voting no.
After more discussion, Adkinson made the motion to pass the 2 percent hike on to residential customers, which passed on a 5-1 vote with Dean voting no.
New Grant
Jeremy McMath, with Civil Southeast, told the council that Flomaton had been approved for a $1.4 million grant to address the sewer lagoon, which would require a $400,000 match that could be paid over 20 years at about $2,500 per month.
McMath said the money would be used to not only upgrade the lagoon, but also upgrade sewer lift stations.
McMath said it amounts to about $1 million in free money for the town adding that the Alabama Department of Environmental Management rarely gives away ‘total’ free money.
McMath said the lagoon on Martin Luther King Drive will be the top priority.
“This is the best deal I’ve seen for the town of Flomaton in 20 years,” McMath said.
He also noted the town would not be required to start paying the money back until 2025.
