WR Council raises gas rates, approves new trash contract

WARNER ROBINS. Ga. — Warner Robins Mayor and Council made a number of impactful decisions Monday, maintaining and changing utility rates, and determining the future of development within the city.

Council were divided over a proposed new solid waste contract.

According to Mayor LaRhonda Patrick, the city’s 25-year solid waste contract with a Crisp County authority has come to an end, allowing the city to seek a new contract. As a result, the city sought a direct relationship with GFL Environmental — the subcontractor that once worked with a Crisp County authority to fulfill Warner Robins’ solid waste needs.

The new contract is written to ensure that GFL works more consistently to provide diligent trash pickup, and that the company receives complaints from the public rather than the city. Complaints will be reported to the city on a regular basis by the company — GFL is contractually obligated to respond to and resolve complaints within their service area.

This contract does not change the current trash rate charged to citizens in the city of Warner Robins, and will not require a rate change for the next four years. Afterward, the city is free to raise rates as GFL does the same, ensuring Warner Robins does not fall into a deficit.

Several council members, however, raised concerns that GFL would not provide adequate service — as the subcontractor that once provided the city’s solid waste services through the Crisp County authority, members of council had received previous complaints about the company and their quality of service. According to Councilman Clifford Holmes, this is a longstanding issue.

“The citizens deserve more,” Holmes said. “I don’t know if I’m comfortable with this company. They’ve been here, they didn’t do, they didn’t do, they didn’t do, and I’ll go back 14 years ago — they didn’t do.”

When it came time to vote, council was split on the resolution: Councilmen Charlie Bibb, Larry Curtis and Keith Lauritsen voted in favor of giving GFL the solid waste contract; Councilmen Derek Mack, Kevin Lashley and Holmes we’re against.

Mayor Patrick broke the tie, voting in favor of giving GFL the contract. It’s set to last seven years.

Shortly after making this change, council made changes to the current gas rate.

The rate will rise to a $12 monthly base rate. The city’s monthly distribution fee will rise to $6.

“This is crucial for us to be able to provide quality gas services,” Councilman Lauritsen said. “We are in the top five providers of gas in the state of Georgia, and our rates are one of the lowest — and still will be when we amend this slight increase.”

Councilman Bibb called the change a necessary one, citing city needs and employee livelihood.

Council voted unanimously in approval of this change.

At the top of their pre-council meeting, mayor and council discussed item 13: the annexation of 104 South Amanda Place.

According to many members of council, they received calls from concerned members of the public regarding this item. A potential carwash along Highway 96, members of council brought forward concerns of added traffic in residential neighborhoods. Councilman Holmes added that he wanted the city’s stipulations to be written down and agreed upon with the developer before voting on the annexation.

“Do we have anything in writing?” Holmes asked. “Not what they’ve said, I don’t want a conversation, I want something in writing that we can deal with.”

Council made stipulations that an access road be added to the developer’s plan so that the effect on traffic would be minimalized, and that a buffer be placed between the nearby residential area so that those living in nearby homes won’t be disrupted by a commercial space.

Property Engineer Robert Moore reported to council that the property owners, Frida Wallentine and Carol Low, have no issues making these changes, and that a plan will be provided at next council meeting.

Items 13 was removed from the agenda until the next council meeting.

Several months ago, the city of Warner Robins developed an “interparcel access agreement,” a document that allows the city to control how developments are placed along roadways, and which developments have direct access to main roads. According to Mayor Patrick, the document is flawed — it did not take into consideration property owners who were marketing their property prior to the city’s change.

To remedy this, Patrick offered an alteration to the ordinance.

“It’s going to allow that all decisions regarding interparcel access and connectivity will ultimately be subject to Mayor and Council,” City Attorney Julia Mize explained.

Councilman Bibb said he was thankful for this change, but added that the city’s decision to have control over road access remained sound.

“I appreciate you making this change, but I also agree with the city in what we’re trying to do to make all those parcels on 96 and everywhere else they’re trying to develop, to actually stop so many curb cuts, stop so many in-and-out entrances, even if they are legal, to make them more presentable.

“The city’s responsibility is to come up with an overall plan so that we can let the developers and these people that are selling the parcels know what we’re expecting, so when they negotiate people coming in and buying this property they know what to expect up front.”

Council unanimously approved the change.

Finally, mayor and council returned from an executive session to approve a new purchase of sale agreement. With council’s approval, Mayor Patrick was given the authority to negotiate a property purchase at 201 S. Commercial Circle. According to Patrick, once negotiations are complete for this property, the city will own 80% of it’s targeted area for it’s new downtown district.

The agenda and supporting documents for this meeting can be found at the city’s website, or by going to wrga.gov/agendacenter. Mayor and council’s meeting are typically scheduled on the first and third Monday of each month, exclusive of federally practiced holidays.

The next meeting will be held on Monday, May 15. Pre-council will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Carolyn Robbins Room at City Hall. The regular council meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers of the same building.

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