New hours, rules for Big Sandy

Big Sandy officials approved unanimously to extend city hall hours and new cut-off dates for unpaid water bills at the monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 19.

The new hours for city hall, effective on April 1, will be 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mayor Autumn Ratliff said this will make it easier for early risers to take care of “city business.”

Council members also discussed bumping up the cutoff date for unpaid water bills to the 17th. The current date is the 25th of the month. The council agreed this would cut down on the overage amount the city would have to incur.

Trash issues were a major discussion with each member chiming in about multiple issues. Ratliff said the city had been shorthanded recently and it enlarged the issue. However, she also said some city trash customers were irresponsible and put restricted items in and on top of their trash cans. The city has also seen more than eight trash cans at one residence.

The city wanted to remind customers that only household trash was permitted in trash cans. Ratliff also urged customers to put a lid on their cans, as when it rains the trash cans fill with water making it difficult for city workers to pick-up and handle. The council agreed to research programs that may work better for Big Sandy.

The mayor stated the city is looking to add an additional city utility worker to the payroll and applications were currently being accepted.

The council advised resident Nicole Cannon to reach out to her grandmother Mary Merle’s insurance company regarding a delinquent water bill. The bill for the Farmer’s Lane trailer park vacant home is currently $2,143.84. Cannon explained to the council that vandals had broken into the home and left the water running on numerous occasions. She said she had reported the incidents to the Big Sandy Police Chief and he advised her not to file a report.

The council expressed concern over the multiple incidents and that Cannon should ask the insurance company to cover the expense so that the city doesn’t have to assume the considerable bill.