PRESCOTT – Saying county residents were upset with the new trash fees would be an understatement.
Several residents were on hand for the February meeting of the Nevada County Quorum Court Tuesday evening to voice their complaints about how the court went about instituting the fee. All present said they would pay it, but didn’t like getting a bill in the mail with no forewarning.
Thomas McKinnon got things started complaining about how loggers are tearing up the road in his area. He said loggers have left the ditches clogged up and something needs to be done because it’s dangerous around a creek in the region.
He was told the county’s road crews haven’t been able to do much because it’s been wet, but a mix has been put on the black top portions to help.
Nevada County Judge Mark Glass said he’d get someone out there to look and see what can be done.
Cody Ferguson asked if the county would be providing trash bins since the county is charging for trash pickup now. He was told this would be up to the residents, but if the county can generate enough money, it will furnish trash cans later on. He also asked what law places the trash fees on the property tax bills. JP Bob Cummings said if the trash fee isn’t paid, it’ll be flagged. People can pay their personal property, but won’t be able to get tags for their vehicles until the trash bill is paid.
Diane Brzeski asked why deer camps or businesses in the county weren’t being charged. She informed the court her family doesn’t put trash out to be collected by the county, but is still being required to pay the fee. She added she has a business in Prescott and pays $22 a month to have garbage picked up in town.
Cummins said this was done to give small businesses in the county a break as they generate tax revenue.
This didn’t set well with Brzeski who said she’s having to pay twice and there’s no fairness in how it was done, adding there had to be a better way for the county to go about it.
Keith Williams was upset because county residents weren’t given advance notice before the bills were sent out. Glass said public meetings were held and it was discussed in QC meetings.
Joey Betts’ gripe was having multiple residences on one plot of ground and all living there having to pay. He said the road in his area is so bad trash trucks couldn’t get down it. He said this should have been voted on by the people and the county needs better communication with the public.
It was pointed out articles have been published online and in the HopePrescott News. This argument was discounted because some people don’t have computers or get the paper.
Cummings pointed out every county surrounding Nevada County charge for trash pickup in some way and Nevada County’s fee is the lowest in the region. He said the county had no choice but to charge for trash pickup. Cummings said people will be shocked when the census comes out and they see how the county’s population has declined.
He said the county isn’t in the business to have a huge bank account but to provide services for the residents, and this is a work in progress with changes to be made. He said this isn’t a tax, it’s a fee, adding taxes have to be voted on by the people, but fees can be imposed by the court.
JP Pat Grimes said the county’s been providing free trash pickup for 24 years and agreed the court dropped the ball by not giving people advance notice. However, she said when the City of Prescott started charging for trash pickup, there was no notice and it just appeared on the monthly light bill.
In other business, Glass said he’s talked with Beth Phillips, with the UA Extension Service, about the position of county agent being open in Nevada County.
Cummings informed the court about his visit with the Prescott City Council in January, where he explained why the county gave jailers and dispatchers a pay raise. He said the council understood and agreed it was needed. He added the council is also interested in having committees with members of the court and council to keep one another informed.