Aragon looks to change ordinance

The Aragon city council gathered for their May session to tackle a heavy agenda regarding new purchases, the appointment of a board member to the Downtown Development Authority, and an amendment to how the city will handle garbage services.

One of the most pivotal aspects of the meeting was the overturning of a 16 year old amendment to an even older ordinance over how citizens are supposed to get rid of garbage.

Since July 2001, all residents of Aragon were required to pay for and use the city’s trash removal services.

This means citizens were barred from using personal containers or disposing of refuse themselves, and those who had a spare container lying around were required to pay for Aragon’s trash removal whether they needed it or not.

Now in 2017, the Aragon city council held a hearing for and approved an amendment to the law that will allow citizens to dispose of their own trash at their own expense.

Aragon residents who choose to use their own containers and labor will no longer be required to pay for the city’s trash service.

The new amendment has it’s catches, however, as private containers “must be large enough to accumulate seven days worth of trash,” and “individuals cannot store trash for longer than a week,” said clerk Sandy Norman.

Norman also pointed out that private trash cans must be metal or heavy gauge plastic to ensure animals cannot move and spread refuse, and that “containers must be stored inside or to the rear of the owner’s residence.”

Existing customers of Aragon’s waste removal services can have those services canceled, but those who are in debt to the trash department cannot expect late or miscellaneous fees to vanish alongside their contracts.

Despite the changes, the trash department is largely still the same, and existing customers will not be expected to pay the initial mandatory deposit that comes with the trash service.

However, new customers of Aragon’s trash services will be required to pay a deposit fee equivalent to two months of service.

Should a citizen fail to pay their garbage bill after a sixty day period, city provided trash cans and services will be revoked, and said citizens will be responsible for storing and removing their own trash.

The city will have a second reading of the ordinance before being able to move onto a vote on the changes to the city’s garbage plans for the year.

Previously, council members had discussed what to do about allowing garbage service from outside providers back into the city. Mayor Garry Baldwin argued that it would allow for competition in the marketplace, and likely drive more customers to use city services when they found out what prices are like for others.

Concerns were also raised about allowing the trucks into the village, where narrow streets could make for traffic problems and ensuring that when residents are no longer paying for any trash service, they are required to dispose of trash and not let it pile up on front porches or yards.

With Aragon’s City Council spending prolonged periods of time at City Hall, the council found the building’s outdated security and minimum camera coverage disturbing and moved to approve the purchase of thirteen new security cameras. As is, the cameras at Aragon’s City Hall feature lackluster quality and can “only store about a week’s worth of footage at a time,” said Public Works’ Daniel Johnson.

Johnson stressed that with the 13 new cameras “every inch of this building will be covered, alongside the surrounding buildings.”

The new cameras- soon to be provided and installed by Secure Source LLCwill hover above every entrance of City Hall and will be capable of storing up to two terabytes of footage. The council added an additional camera to the budget to ensure the vault room is covered as well.

The cameras, labor, and a twelve month warranty will cost the city an estimated $8,984 dollars, but the council approved an additional $500 for the vault room camera.

No estimate was provided for the single additional camera, so the $ 500 granted may not be used entirely. All funds for the security will be taken out of the 2014 SPLOST tax pool.

Cameras aren’t the only thing the council intends to buy, however, and the purchasing of a replacement city truck was approved.

Aragon primarily used their pick-up truck for public works projects or recreational events, but with their Chevrolet Pick-Up emulating the sound of a plane engine and the air conditioning dying, the council agreed it was time to move on.

Now at the request of Public Works Superintendent Daniel Johnson, the truck will be added to the city’s surplus item’s list “and put up for auction.”

Council members voted to approve the purchase of a 2004 Ford Ranger Edge for $7,700.36, with funds to be taken out of the 2014 SPLOST to pay for the new vehicle.

Johnson stressed the dependability of a newer model and pointed out it “had a similar engine, close mileage, and usable AC as the Chevrolet pickup.”

With the heat and events for summer fast approaching, Johnson described the truck as “an essential purchase.”

The council later moved to fill the vacancy in the Downtown Development Authority left by Kelsey Collum.

Needing a new member, the council unanimously agreed to appoint Aragon’s Delmer Rayburn.

The Downtown Development Authority is taxed with ensuring the prosperity and welfare of downtown Aragon as well as ensuring good organization between businesses, the city, and citizens.

Aragon City Council meetings are held the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m., with a work session starting at 6 p.m. Those interested in the affairs of the municipality can join in at Aragon’s City Hall, located at 2814 Rome Highway.