who don’t pay garbage bill

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

May 8, 2000 10 PM

Pike County residents who are not paying their solid waste bills will likely find themselves in court.

Monday night, the Pike County Commission was briefed on the rising problem of people filing bankruptcy and thinking that’s the end of it.

Some may be surprised to know that it’s not.

Sam Green, enforcement officer for the Solid Waste Department, estimates between $70,000 and $80,000 are owed to the department.

The county does have two options ­ civil or criminal court ­ to get what is owed.

"I’m going to start taking them to court," Green said.

County attorney Allen Jones said Chapter 13 does not exempt them from paying their solid waste bill.

"I couldn’t believe it was that amount of money," Jones said of what people owe the county.

So, it looks like Pike County is going to follow in the footsteps of Henry County and press criminal charges.

Nonpayment of solid waste fees is a misdemeanor that carries a fine of $50 per day.

"It might send a message," Jones said of going the criminal route. "I don’t believe a civil suit will accomplish a lot."

Jones said he will discuss criminal action with the District Attorney’s Office because something should be done about the "continuing problem" of nonpayment.

In other business, the commission:

· Voted to lease a building to be placed at Park Memorial United Methodist Church for use as a polling place on June 2. Use of the Army Reserve Center is not possible because of federal restrictions on holding party elections on federal property.

· Approved a house and mobile home subdivision on Alabama 29 West on property adjoining Henson Cemetery.

Only mobile homes from 1995 and later that are over 1,100 square feet will be permitted in the subdivision. According to Don Avant, the lots will be at least 1,500 square feet.

"We’ve got some strict regulations," Avant said.

The property will be on city utilities and will have police protection from the Troy Police Department, since it adjoins city property.

· Named the bridge on Shellhorn Road "Burrell Pugh Bridge" with the petitioners and residents paying for and maintaining the sign.

· Declared a vehicle from the sheriff’s department as surplus and gave Sheriff Russell Thomas permission to sell it for $3,500 to the South Central Alabama Regional Housing Authority. The price will include the blue lights and cage.

· Expressed sympathy to the family of former Sheriff Harold Anderson. Commissioner Larry Penn also commended the city of Troy for an "outstanding job" with the millennium celebration this past weekend.