TOP STORY OF THE DAY - Concerns over city trash service

After the acquisition of Wallace Bros. by Republic Services, many citizens were left feeling frustrated.

Anger and confusion ensued after Republic Services sent a letter that mentioned a fuel recovery fee. Mayor Brian Wyndham says this won't affect those living within the limits of the Corporate City of Brazil.

"That letter pertained to customers outside of the city," said Mayor Wyndham. "In the contract, there were built-in price increases that we (the city) are charged, but the bill comes through the city, not the residents. When you see that $18 on your water and sewage bill, that's the city charging that." The city has the ability to raise and lower rates.

Many have taken to social media to let their distaste be known, but city officials say this considerable change will take time.

"They took over, in the city, over 3,000 places to pick up trash. It didn't surprise me that there were a few glitches, but I believe they're going to get it worked out," described Wyndham.

Janet McClellan, Planning and Zoning Administrator agreed with Wyndham's sentiment, "I personally would give Republic a couple of months or so to see how things go. Anytime there is a change, there are kinks to work out."

Wyndham says it will take time to adjust to a new company that isn't local but says the options are limited.

"I don't foresee the city going back and running their own trash route. When we were doing that before, that whole department was hemorrhaging. By going to a trash service, whether it was Wallace or Republic, it created a lot cleaner system."

Wyndham says the totes have been a great system that regulates pickup, as before, whatever was sat out the city had to pick up. Buying totes would have cost the city $100,000.

McClellan stresses that the Republic has assumed the contract with the City of Brazil for trash pickup, the fees of which come from citizens' water bills. Per the contract, citizens are allowed one tote and heavy trash pickup twice annually (April and October).

"Now, for the folks that have multiple totes, the city, we furnish one. Any totes outside of that were billed directly from Wallace, not us. That would be between them and Republic on any additional totes for residential use," explained Wyndham.