Big changes are coming to garbage collection in Senatobia.
In a move to cut down on monthly and yearly costs, the Board of Aldermen used a 4-1 vote and approved a proposal earlier this month to outsource the city’s garbage collection to Waste Pro. Aldermen also authorized a monthly rate hike from $18 to $23 for residential customers and an increase from $20 to $30 in commercial rates. That motion passed by a 3-2 margin.
The $10 discount the city previously offered for additional garbage carts at residences and businesses will be eliminated. All changes are expected to take place in April.
Stephen Hodges, Senatobia director of operations, said the price increase was necessary even if the city remained in the business of weekly garbage pickup.
“Landfill dumping fees are going up 15 percent and the prices of garbage trucks, fuel, insurance, repairs and maintenance have risen but our rates have remained the same,” Hodges said. “That has led to a revenue deficit for the city.”
Hodges originally presented the plan to outsource the city’s garbage collection to aldermen at a Jan. 20 meeting, but city leaders tabled the request to consider options.
“We cannot continue to lose money,” said Alderman Kevin Dear. “This has been going on for a while, and we keep getting into a bigger hole.”
Hodges said the city would retain responsibility for customer billing and the fee increase will free up money for the public works department to expand other city services such as leaf and limb removal, grass clipping pickup and street sweeping.
The contract with Waste Pro includes an initial “locked in” term of six years with an option to extend for an additional four years. Terms can be renegotiated if new Senatobia aldermen are elected in 2029.
As part of the deal, Waste Pro agrees to:
• Assume all dumping fees for trash
• Supply and maintain carts/cans
• Execute collection routes and day-to-day operational functions
• Provide video technology on each trash truck
• Provide minimum of three employees for routes
Hodges said Waste Pro will run garbage routes five days a week in Senatobia. The city currently collects garbage from approximately 3,200 cans four days a week. Hodges estimates about 230 homes and businesses currently have multiple garbage containers.
“That should benefit those who pay extra money for additional cans,” Hodges added. “More routes mean garbage will be picked up more frequently.”
In January 2025, Tate County supervisors approved an “across the board” garbage rate increase from $15 to $20 per can. City officials in Hernando agreed to a garbage rate hike from $22 to $28 per can Tuesday, Feb. 4 plus a $1 increase for extra cans.
In other business, aldermen approved the following:
• Minutes from the regular mayor and board of aldermen meeting Jan. 20
• Minutes from the special mayor and board of aldermen meeting Jan. 23
• Docket of claims 41739-41844 for a total of $331,857.55
• Employment termination of full-time Senatobia-Tate County Animal Shelter employee Nathan Farrow for violating city policy effective immediately
• Move part-time Senatobia-Tate County Animal Shelter employee Sarah Smith to full-time position effective immediately
• Advertisement for open part-time Senatobia-Tate County Animal Shelter position
• Firefighter Sam Suggs to attend Firefighter Level I/II, NFPA 1010-0102 Class 220 at the MS Fire Academy in Pearl March 2-April 16 and pay registration and travel expenses
• Police Lt. Howell to attend Bridge the Gap: Agency Success Through Mentoring class in Oxford Feb. 17 and pay registration
• Hiring of James Prather as a full-time CDL driver in public works department at a rate of $17.50 per hour pending background and drug screening results.
