Delinquent garbage bill could result in court date

By Deangelo McDaniel
dmcdaniel@decaturdaily.com · 340-2469

HARTSELLE — If you are not paying your monthly solid waste bill, you may receive a summons to appear in Hartselle municipal court.

"I don't want to summon anybody to court, but we can't keep sending notifications," said Mayor Dwight Tankersley.

The City Council voted Tuesday night to clear up language making it a misdemeanor for violating the solid waste ordinance.

Residents who fail to pay the mandatory $11.60-per-month fee are subject to a fine of between $50 and $200 or incarceration of up to six months in jail.

Hartselle has been collecting its own garbage for about two years.

Tankersley said there are also 33 residents who are delinquent for $10 fees they owe the city.

For $10 per haul, Hartselle offers a service that will pick up large limbs and junk like used refrigerators. Homeowners call City Hall and the city picks up the material before making people pay.

"This is convenient for our residents," Tankersley said. "I don't want to make them pay in advance."

The council agreed to send residents on the delinquent list one more letter before sending a police officer to summon them to court.

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