City selects Waste Pro as new residential trash pickup service

The Atmore City Council awarded a low bid for a new residential trash pickup service to Waste Pro during its regular meeting on Monday.

City Economic Planner and Grants Writer Chris Walker said during the meeting that in February, the council approved for the city to send requests for proposals to private residential solid waste services. He added that the city received two declines on the bid based on operations locations, and two others from Waste Pro and Republic Services.

Walker said the bid was awarded to Waste Pro for $505,612 annually based on Atmore’s house count.

“That may change because some residents may want more than one cart,” Walker said. “We have a 60-day window to enter into a contract (with Waste Pro), and a 60-day window on onboarding.”

According to a release, Waste Pro is projected to begin collecting trash from residents in early July. Waste Pro officials said at the council meeting that they’d provide any help to the city as it makes its transition.

Walker said West Escambia Utilities will still send out the billing for the garbage service. According to a release, the pickup services will remain at $30 per month.

According to city officials, Waste Pro was selected after a bid process due to its commitment to excellence in waste management services. Waste Pro has state-of-the-art equipment, efficient operations and dedication to environmental sustainability, according to a release.

Regarding help with the transition, Street Department Superintendent Calvin Grace said the city would lend a helping hand to Waste Pro.

The city will provide each resident with a wheeled 95-96 gallon trashcan with alid. The homes will be in uniform, and the cans will eliminate bags on the sidewalk and in makeshift receptacles, according to a release. The cans will also deter animals from getting in and tearing trash bags apart, spreading litter.

Each residence will receive an informational packet that details where and when to place the trashcan by the road.

In other business, the council:

• held a public hearing to hear comments in favor of or against a proposed tattoo and body piercing establishment ordinance. City Code Enforcement Officer Greg Vaughn said the planning commission was approached in December 2023 about the current tattoo and body piercing ordinance. Vaughn at the time, it was only allowed in the industrial district, and the city was approached to allow it in a business district.

Vaughn said the commission arrived at a recommendation for the council, which is the amending of the zoning ordinance to include a tattoo and body piercing establishment.

“What this ordinance allows is a tattoo band body piercing business in an industrial district, but it expands it to being allowed in a B2 district,” he said. “The B2 is most of your business district in downtown, not your downtown business district, not around Main Street.”

Vaughn recalled that the B2 district runs roughly the past the 200 block of south along Main Street, including Lindberg Avenue, north of 200 block of North Main, and east and west of 200 blocks of Nashville Avenue. The council approved the ordinance, which is ordinance 01-2024; and,

• approved the Juneteenth Celebration Parade and Walk on Sat., June 15. Event Coordinator Sandra Gray said the parade route will follow the same route as the MLK Day Parade.

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