Staff Writer

JONESVILLE - Residents here will pay an extra $3 a month for garbage collection as Jonesville struggles to break even with the cost of providing the service.

Jonesville Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday to raise the garbage collection fee from $13 a month to $16 a month. Mayor Ernest Moore Jr. recommended the increase, saying garbage collection costs the town $58,000 a year but the $13 a month fee only generated $46,000 leaving an annual deficit of $12,000. Moore said the town could not continue to absorb the cost. He said the increase will enable the town to break even and continue to provide the service.

“We don't want to do it, but we have no choice,” he said. “We can't afford not to do this, we just have to do it.”

During the discussion of Moore's recommendation, council member Ann Queen dismissed alternatives to raising the fee as unworkable. Mrs. Queen said that some had suggested that the town discontinue brush collection to reduce costs. She said that not only would this not have much impact on the costs the town incurs, it would leave the town in a mess with brush everywhere.

Police vehicles

Council also voted unanimously to end the practice of police officers driving their patrol cars home when their shift ends. Moore said the move is designed to reduce the town's fuel costs.

Mrs. Queen said she has always been opposed to officers driving their patrol cars home. She said the only reason an officer might have to have their patrol cars at home is if they're called out to a crime scene or emergency during the night.

Chief Eddie Smith said he would probably come back to council in 30 days and ask that they change the policy. Smith said he wants his officers to be able to go immediately to a call rather than having to drive back and get their patrol cars. He also asked council to designate where the cars should be parked and Moore said at the old armory.

Councilman Danny Gregory said the policy should be implemented on trial basis and councilman Steve Thompson said council should come back and compare fuel savings. The rest of council agreed.