Trash was a hot topic at Monday night’s Pike County Commission meeting.

Lant Dubose, a representative from Advanced Disposal, was on hand to give a report to commissioners and also address some complaints. Advanced Disposal is the company the county contracts for garbage pick-up.

Commissioners brought up some concerns from their constituents, such as trash not being picked up, possible poor customer service and deteriorating equipment

Dubose took note of all issues and pledged to address them. He also told the commission there were about 1,000 people, including one person who recently called to complain, on the garbage route that aren’t even paying for Advanced Disposal’s service. Dubose said the company will be identifying those problems and passing the names along to the county to decide what the next step should be.

Also at the meeting, the county approved bridge rehabilitation work at Youngblood and Shady Grove roads and County Engineer Russell Oliver announced that work would begin Wednesday on Indian Creek Bridge on County Road 2214.

Buses and other heavy traffic have had to reroute around that bridge for some time. The bridge will be replaced and the road from Highway 29 to Goshen will be resurfaced. Oliver said it could be a six-month project and traffic should reroute around the area during that time.

The county commission voted, also, to continue current levies for alcohol licensing in Pike County.

Commissioner Robin Sullivan reported that the Gas Tax Proposal Committee met and recommends that the 5-cent gas tax proposed by the commission be tabled at this time. However, Sullivan noted, the condition of Pike County’s roads continues to deteriorate and the commission must reach out to community members and leaders in an effort to find a way to solve the growing problem.

During the meeting, the commission recognized Alabama State Trooper Michael Thomas for being named the post Trooper of the Year, and Troy University students presented ideas for two program evaluations they plan to work on for class.

The students will be evaluating ways to replace or improve the Pike County Jail and create recreation opportunities at Pike County Lake. They will return in April with their findings.