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Commissioners holding off on countywide garbage collection
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Pat Donahue
Coastal Courier
Published: Aug 17, 2022, 12:23 PM

Liberty County commissioners won’t be placing polycarts for household garbage at homes in the unincorporated portions of the county any time soon.

County Administrator Joey Brown recommended to commissioners at their meeting Tuesday night that going to polycart collection for household garbage isn’t currently feasible across the county.

“Because of the state of the union and the way things are, we’re having enough problems trying to staff what we currently do,” he said. “Right now, it would be very tough to get that up and running.”

County commissioners contracted with a consulting firm last year to look into what it would take to start a curbside garbage collection service throughout the unincorporated county. The current system has garbage pickup once a week in Flemington and rural Riceboro, serving nearly 640 households.

MSW Consultants proposed two scenarios for future polycart use. One included those currently served and extended service to all households in the unincorporated portions, a total of more than 7,650 homes. A second scenario added those homes plus those in Riceboro and Midway, within about three years, bringing the number of homes with curbside service to more than 8,700.

The study also laid out challenges, including labor and the number of homes on private roads, nearly 500 in all. With an expanded service, the county could be looking at adding 10 new positions, according to the study.

Also, as other government entities experience long wait times on delivery of vehicles both large and small, the lead time on equipment also is expected to be lengthy.

“To try to double that staff and open up something new right now, business- wise, we just don’t think is feasible,” Brown said.

The county may take another look at it down the road, Brown pointed out.

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Polls open Tuesday for ESPLOST voting
Politics
Updated: Mar 17, 2025, 7:17 PM
Published: Mar 17, 2025, 6:30 PM

Voting for the education special local option sales tax renewal will take place Tuesday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at precincts around the county.

The extension of the ESPLOST is the only issue on the ballot before voters. Several other counties also are conducting ESPLOST measures Tuesday.

The Liberty County School System has laid out a $112 million plan to be funded by ESPLOST proceeds, if it is passed.

Should ESPLOST VII be approved by Liberty County voters, the school system will use about $44 million of the money it provides from an extra penny on the sales tax for a new school.

Technology upgrades across the system are planned under ESPLOST, as are renovations to existing schools. The school system also intends to refresh its bus fleet with buying new buses.

Proceeds from ESPLOST cannot go toward such day-to-day operations as salaries or other compensation for school system employees.

There were 1,237 ballots cast in early voting, with 504 coming in the final week. The final day of early voting – March 14 – was the busiest, with 206 ballots cast. The current ESPLOST was passed in 2021 with 86% of the votes in favor of it.

ESPLOST ballot
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