In an effort to address a gloomy solid waste services picture,Brookhaven officials are considering a new garbage collection rateschedule that would more than double fees for a number ofcommercial customers.

“It’s left up to the people if they want to pay it or they canget private pick up,” said Sanitation Department SuperintendentJames Arnold in presenting the proposed schedule during the mayorand board of aldermen meeting earlier this week.

Of 59 categories of garbage customers, the fee for 23 would morethan double and a few more come within several dollars of doubling.City officials have said their commercial rates were out of lineand the new schedule was designed to address that.

“We’re going on the amount of garbage we collect,” Arnoldsaid.

Arnold said commercial rates had not changed since 1994.However, tipping fees, the amount the city pays for garbagedisposal in a private landfill, have risen steadily over thattime.

Alderman at large Les Bumgarner indicated “fair share” concernsabout paying for collection while commenting on the proposed rateschedule.

“We definitely need to look at it,” Bumgarner said. “We’veprobably got too many people paying too much and some not payingenough.”

Ward 5 Alderman Tom Smith expressed similar sentiments. However,mentioning the need for daily garbage pick up at some commercialestablishments, Smith speculated the city could still be facing a”losing proposition” even with the higher rates.

“I think we need to at least break even on it and not losemoney,” Smith said.

Aldermen were expected to discuss the new commercial solid wastecollection fee schedule during a special called meeting planned forTuesday. Also on the agenda is a discussion of the city’s proposedintermodal transportation facility.

“It’s gotten to the point where we’ve got to do something,otherwise we’ll have to shut it down,” Smith said about the garbagesituation. “We don’t need that to happen.”

City officials have been studying the solid waste situation forseveral months. A consultant has been hired to help city officialswith their plans.

The fee for residential garbage collection was raised from $9 amonth to $12 a month at budget time last year. The residential feewould not be raised again under the new schedule.

Arnold said the higher commercial fees were aimed at eliminatingsome red ink in the city’s solid waste operation.

“We have to come up on our commercial rates or let it go,”Arnold said, adding that city officials would like to maintainresidential garbage collection if possible.

The latest totals Arnold had showed the city $56,000 in thered.

“It ought to bring us out of the red,” the superintendentsaid.

Bumgarner was unsure of the net gain or loss that the new rateswould bring. He mentioned the possibility of privatization ifrevenue was insufficient.

“If it’s not enough net gain, we’ll probably have to go with BFIor Waste Management,” said Bumgarner, who added that another optionwould be to cut pick up service from twice a week to once aweek.

Regarding privatization, Smith indicated that would be a betteroption for commercial customers.

“That’s what’s eating our lunch right now,” the aldermansaid.

Smith said city crews are using sway cars to pick up garbage.Some sanitation department trucks are in need of repairs, but thealderman said the budget situation prevents that from beingdone.

Arnold said hydraulic pumps on two of the trucks were out andwere having to be rebuilt. He indicated money to pay for therepairs was sufficient, but the future may be in doubt if adequatefunding is not identified.

“We’re going to have to get our garbage situated out,” Arnoldsaid. “That’s what’s taking us under.”