Supervisors Leave Garbage Policy Unchanged After Discussion In Meetings
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YALOBUSHA — A dispute over a garbage bill in April led to a broader discussion this week as the Yalobusha County Board of Supervisors revisited its policy on canceling residential garbage pickup in the county.
The issue first came up during the April 20 meeting, when supervisors reduced a bill for resident Leslie Campbell after he argued he made a good-faith effort to cancel service following a serious injury almost a year ago.
Campbell told the board he broke his leg and underwent two surgeries before moving in with family. He also explained that he cut off his utilities, including garbage pickup.
“I called the garbage department,” Campbell said. “They told me if I had my water and lights turned off, they could take care of it.”
But Sanitation Department Clerk Sheila Schmitz told supervisors there was no record of that request.
“We didn’t get anything showing that he closed it. The bill kept generating,” Schmitz said about charges that accrued to $230 at $24 per month.
Under a policy adopted by supervisors in August 2025, garbage accounts remain active until the customer cancels service, typically with an in-person visit, even if other utilities are shut off and the home is vacant.
“It is the responsibility of the generator of the garbage or the owner to terminate the account,” Board Attorney Shannon Crow explained during Monday’s meeting about the county’s policy.
“As long as that can is there, the county’s paying Waste Management,” Chancery Clerk Donald Gray said, noting the county continues to be billed until it notifies Waste Management that service has been canceled.
The policy was adopted after repeated problems with residents moving away without canceling service. Typically, supervisors would credit the customer’s account if they could produce documentation that they had terminated other utilities, even if the customer had not contacted the county to cut off garbage service.
Donald Gray said another problem is that often, a customer will claim they called and canceled their service even if they did not.
“Every one of them is going to say they told you with a phone call,” he noted.
Supervisors ultimately voted to reduce Campbell’s bill to $25.75 in the April meeting, after weighing his testimony and documentation showing he had shut off other utilities.
The vote deviated from the county’s policy and prompted discussion at the May 4 meeting in Coffeeville about whether the policy should be eliminated.
Board President Cayce Washington raised the possibility of handling situations on a case-by-case basis instead.
“Are we going to do it case by case?” Washington asked about addressing complaints.
District 4 Supervisor Eddie Harris supported that idea.
“I think we need to do it case by case,” Harris said.
But Crow cautioned that approach could create inconsistencies.
“You can, but you have to treat everybody the same,” Crow said.
District 5 Supervisor Gaylon Gray agreed.
“That’s when you will have a courtroom full,” Gray said.
The discussion also included making it easier for residents to cancel service, including allowing email notification instead of requiring an in-person visit to the courthouse for cancellation.
“It could be as simple as … send me an email,” Washington said.
But concerns remained about proof and documentation.
“A lot of times it just slips their mind,” Supervisor Gray said of residents forgetting to cancel service.
In the end, supervisors opted to leave the policy unchanged, including requiring an in-person visit to the courthouse for service cancellation.
Washington said consistency was key.
“We just need to be consistent so we don’t get in trouble,” he said.
