During the Special Session held on October 21st, county commissioners took significant steps aimed at reducing expenses, enhancing cost fairness, and positioning Lawrence County for future economic growth. After several months of deliberation, the county has engaged a company to manage the loading, transportation, and disposal of household waste at a landfill in Mississippi. The contract, which spans five years, was awarded to Waste Connections, Inc., the firm that submitted the lowest bid. Notably, this agreement includes a provision that limits annual fee increases to a maximum of 5%. Even with these potential increases, the county will still incur lower costs compared to previous arrangements.
In addition to this contract, the commissioners made the decision to increase the commercial solid waste tax in alignment with the residential rate hike that was implemented late last year. This move is part of an ongoing effort to ensure that the costs associated with solid waste services are distributed equitably among all residents of Lawrence County. The commissioners are also addressing a significant issue: approximately 29% of residents currently do not pay their solid waste fees. To tackle this challenge, they are in the process of hiring a more assertive bill collection agency to improve compliance and ensure that all citizens contribute fairly to the costs of waste management.