March 17, 2016 - The Shelby County Commissioners ratified the recent disaster declaration issued by Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison and approved dupmsters to assist Precinct 3 with cleanup.
"I can declare the disaster, but within seven days we have to ratify for it to continue on, so that is what the meeting is primarily for," said Judge Harbison.
Judge Harbison noted Shelby County has been added to the governor's disaster proclamation for the state, with three additional counties also being added.
A motion carried to ratify the March 10th declaration of disaster.
Dumpsters to be placed in Precinct 3 for debris removal was the second item on the agenda for discussion. Judge Harbison asked the commissioners if they felt it would be a good idea to add another dumpster or two. Travis Rodgers, Precinct 3 Commissioner, asked where the money would be coming from to fund the additional dumpsters.
"I talked to Clint [Porterfield, County Auditor,] and since this is an emergency we had talked about taking it from contingency or emergency services or somewhere," said Judge Harbison.
Rodgers stated he had room for the dumpsters in a gated area. Judge Harbison stated the county doesn't want household trash. Instead the dumpsters would be used for such things as household carpeting, clothes, and furniture which has to be removed from homes as a result of the flooding.
The expectation, according to Judge Harbison, is these additional dumpsters may have to be available for the next couple of months allowing time for people to even get to their homes, which may still be under water at this time.
Rodgers initially wanted to start with just one additional dumpster; however, Roscoe McSwain, Precinct 1 Commissioner, indicated this would not likely be enough.
"It won't take long, couches and junk like that, it'll be full," said McSwain.
A motion to approve getting one additional dumpster was being considered by the commissioners when Rodgers inquired if the dumpster would just be left unmanned.
"Are you just going to leave it sitting out there, or are you going to have somebody there to watch that dumpster? Somebody to help unload that stuff, put it in the dumpster. You gonna let them pile it out on the ground, and then the county's got to do it," said Rodgers.
Judge Harbison offered the possibility of seeing how it goes and then possibly send trustys over to load the trash, "Maybe we can get the sheriff to volunteer to bring trustys over there to help just keep it neat and tidy."
Rodgers continued to indicate his point is the items which people bring including mattresses, and couches will be excessively heavy with water weight and very difficult to put over the top edge of a dumpster.
McSwain suggested having two dumpsters available only on Saturdays. Rodgers stated it's going to take someone to man the dumpsters when they're available.
"It would be easier to man it like that, just doing it one day and just say that's it. If I have to, I'd be glad to volunteer one of my county hands to go. If Travis will let us use the backhoe to work," said McSwain. "Somebody's going to have to man it. I mean it ain't right to have the citizens come up there and try to throw that damn stuff in there, not something like that. They just lost their home and all their stuff."
Judge Harbison commented it would be great for the commissioners to help out and get additional hands to help, because Rodgers' hands are working everyday all day. Rodgers commented he isn't sure his precinct will be able to have the roadways where they will be ready for school buses to travel on by Monday.
Judge Harbison asked the commissioners if they could provide a hand to help out on a Saturday. Commissioner McSwain was the only one to state he knew he could offer a hand. Precinct 2 and Precinct 4 Commissioners sat in silence suggesting they may not be offering help.
"If necessary, we could reimburse the labor for the precinct for the work on Saturdays, also out of contingency," said Porterfield.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures, and I think now is the time for us to come together and try to help Precinct 3 out and then help the people and the citizens out, so I think that's a great idea," said Judge Harbison.
A motion carried approving two dumpsters on Saturday only for Pct 3, for household flood damage debris from 9am-4pm, with someone on-site to help. Payment to employees for this time will be made via the contingency fund.
The intention is to keep making the dumpsters available on following Saturdays as well.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:50am.
