Staff Writer

Troy officials are hoping to take advantage of the landfill opening Nov. 1 in Brundidge.

When the BFI landfill opens in Brundidge on the first day of November, it will likely be receiving solid waste from the city of Troy.

Tuesday night, Mayor Jimmy Lunsford and members of the Troy City Council discussed the opportunity with Ernest Kaufman, the vice president who oversees the southeastern region for BFI.

Currently, the city of Troy is spending $25.50 per ton, plus the cost of hauling solid waste to the Coffee County landfill.

By using the Brundidge landfill, the city would save on the transportation costs and pay a $20 per ton tipping fee.

Lunsford said he appreciates BFI’s efforts in opening the Brundidge landfill and said the city will have its attorney read the contract.

"We are hauling to Coffee County without a contract," Lunsford said. "I think we’ve got some options."

Kaufman told the mayor and council members the city "needs a contract for its own protection" and assured them BFI wants to work with Troy in accordance with the city’s intergovernmental agreement (with the county and Brundidge) set up a few years ago.

"We will service you the way you need to be served," Kaufman said.

Kaufman said BFI expects to be receiving 460 tons per day as of January 1, 2002. The landfill is permitted for 1,500 tons per day.

Troy would likely produce 400 tons per month, which would cost an estimated $8,000.

In other business, the council:

· Heard Lunsford read proclamation declaring Oct. 23-31 as Red Ribbon Week and Oct. 30 as Weatherization Day.

· Set Nov. 13 as the date to consider rezoning 7.63 acres on the west side of Needmore Road (County Road 7) owned by Robert W. "Bo" Carlisle. The city’s planning commission recommended rezoning the property.

· Chose 5 p.m., Dec. 4 as the time for citizens to come to City Hall and voice concerns about redistricting in Troy.

Lunsford said he would also like to have a central polling place to reduce confusion for those residents who vote in one location for municipal elections and at another location for county elections.

"I think that would streamline our election process," Lunsford said of having only one polling place for city elections.

· Asked citizens to use caution on Halloween.

"We’re not going to kill Halloween, but we would ask everyone to be extremely careful," Lunsford said. "If it looks out of the ordinary, please report it.

"We’re living in a time, right now, of unusual circumstances…We’re in a society, now, we have to be ever more careful."

Councilman José Henderson asked that children have "responsible adult supervision" while trick-or-treating.

"Don’t send your kids trick-or-treating, take them trick-or-treating," Councilman Jason Reeves said, echoing Henderson’s comments.

· Was told by Lunsford he and Brundidge Mayor Jimmy Ramage are working together to look into funding options for those areas, such as libraries, cut by the Pike County Commission.

"We, like everyone else, had to tighten our belts," Lunsford said, adding he wants to do what he can to help those "worthwhile" programs being impacted by the county’s cuts.

· Acknowledged the absence of Councilwoman Wanda Moultry.