Featured photo: Flint residents asked questions and stated opinions about the city’s trash contract at aq recent meeting.
Written By Jameca Patrick-Singleton
Dozens of residents gathered on Flint’s southside to discuss the possibility of renewing the current trash contract. The meeting was held at the Brennon Center located on Howard Avenue in Flint’s 7th Ward at the invitation of Council woman Candice Mushatt and 7th Ward neighborhood leaders. Mushatt encouraged residents of the 7th Ward to attend stating in a release
“The decision we make about the Priority Waste garbage contract will have a significant impact on our community,” she stated. “We want to ensure that we consider the opinions, concerns and ideas of the residents in our decision-making process”.
During the meeting, Heather Griffin, who serves as waste services coordinator for the city, presented information about the extension and answered questions posed by residents. According to Griffin, a contract extension would include a set cost through fiscal year 2028 and would include uniform trash bins for each individual household.
Mayor Sheldon Neeley, who attended the meeting, also weighed in on the matter.
He released a statement on the city’s website that said in part: “This is an easy choice. Either secure city-owned recycling and trash carts for all Flint households, along with a rate freeze for five years, or don’t. Rejecting this deal will mean an immediate return to the normal 3% yearly increase in waste-hauling contracts and we will be forced to return the $4 million in grant funds.
However, some residents, including 7th Ward community activist Jan Marie Arbor, were concerned that the price will eventually rise and those costs will be passed along to residents through increased taxes. The sentiment was echoed by Councilman Dennis Pfeiffer, who attended the meeting but did not address the group.
In a council meeting held last month (regarding the trash contract) Pfeiffer stated: “Nobody can seem to provide information on how we are going to pay for our services without raising taxes”.
This hotly debated topic was also an agenda item at a special meeting of the city council that took place on November 2. The meeting ended without reaching a resolution.
