City residents will soon be seeing their second garbage rate increase in less than a year. The first one was approved Sept. 3, when the Eupora Board of Aldermen voted to increase the monthly garbage rate from $13 to $15 per residential customer effective with the Oct. 1 collections. Jerry Gary (at-large) said then the city was spending about $20,000 a year more on its contract with Golden Triangle Waste Services than it was taking in from fees. That was the city’s first garbage rate increase in 11 years for twice-a-week collection. The increase would not be enough, however, after the city later learned its costs were going up. The GTWS board of commissioners voted Feb. 20 to increase the rates by 60 cents per household, effective July 1, according to a March 26 letter from General Manager Mary Ann Gilliland. “The city of Eupora rate will go from $10.54 to $11.14 for house-to-house garbage collection,” Gilliland wrote. “We have not had a rate increase since 2008. Since the last rate increase the cost of living has risen 37.5%.” As a result, Gary made a motion at the city board’s May 5 meeting to increase the monthly garbage rate from $15 to $15.60 per residential customer, effective July 1. Howard Rumore (Ward 2) seconded his motion and it was approved 4-0; Hugh Gibson (Ward 3) was absent.. A rate increase will also go into effect the same date for county residents. The Webster County Board of Supervisors voted March 31 to raise the monthly garbage fee from $12 to $14 a month, which is for once-a-week collection. Building Permit Thomas and Ashley Whitten of Eupora appeared before the board on May 4 concerning a building permit application. Thomas Whitten was requesting a variance to allow him to erect a shop on the back part of a lot on North Lake Circle before building a house there, according to the discussion. A city ordinance requires that a home be built on a lot before an outbuilding. Whitten explained that he wanted to build a shop first for storage purposes and provided photos of a similar metal building. The building permit application described the planned structure as a 1,320-square-foot heated enclosed shop of pole barn-type construction with a valuation of $31,650. Mayor Lamar Dumas called for a motion to approve to approve construction of the storage building first, but no such motion was made and the discussion continued. “If you put a shop up and no house is built, you’re violating the ordinance,” Gary told Whitten, who said he did plan to build a house there. Gary said he should apply for a residential building permit and Whitten agreed to do so. He completed and submitted a second application to Public Works Director/Building Inspector Mike McCain before the meeting concluded. No formal action was taken. That was not the end of the matter, however. Gary and Gibson later signed a written notice calling for a special board meeting at 5:30 p.m. May 6 for the purpose of building permit discussion. The Whittens were again present for that meeting, which lasted about 10 minutes. According to the discussion, the second permit application was for a pole barn-type construction shop/house with living quarters. Dumas indicated that, as submitted, it would still require the board to grant a variance and only after a public hearing. Dumas also related that he had received calls from concerned citizens about the proposed structure being a “pole barn” and depleting property values. Dumas again discussed the R-1 (single-family residential) zoning classification that requires a home to be built before any outbuilding. The city clerk provided Whitten with a copy of sections of the ordinance regulating the construction of a dwelling and restrictions pertaining to Whites Creek East Subdivision. “I’m submitting a home now — one lot, one home,” said Whitten. He specified that the structure would not be a shop and that he would live in it, and that McCain had told him “it was fine.” Whitten said “pole barn” only refers to the type of framing, and that this new style of construction is becoming more popular because it is cheaper to build and more energy efficient. Whitten also said he did not think it would deplete property values. Rickey Collins, who owns an adjoining lot, told the board he had no problem with the structure as planned, which he said would be a nice building. Gary then made a motion, seconded by Gibson, that the pole barn shop permit (the second one submitted at the previous meeting) be denied. The motion was approved 5-0. Gary said Whitten would need to resubmit a permit for a house and moved to adjourn, which the board did. When questioned by Whitten about adjourning at that time, Gary said the purpose of the meeting was not to consider the new permit that was yet to be submitted. If McCain approves that permit, no further board action will be required. Other Business At the regular meeting on May 4, Lara Bowman of The Enterprise gave a review of the Industrial Park access road/improvement projects, including information about the Smith property appraisal. George Crawford of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District gave an update on the HOME Grant program, and the board approved related motions at his request. One motion was to pay invoices totaling $5,200 — one for $4,200 from GTPDD for administrative services that will paid when funds are received from the grant, and another for $1,000 from Meek and Meek Attorneys for title opinion work, which was paid that night with the accounts payable claim docket but will be reimbursed from the grant. The board also voted to advertise for proposals for asbestos and lead-based inspections of HOME Grant houses, and accepted Oct. 31 as the new ending date for the program. Other action taken by the board May 4: • authorized Calvert-Spradling Engineers to proceed with the reapplication process for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System wastewater permit, including solicitation of laboratory quotes for sampling and testing. • voted to advertise for the five-year Industrial Park agricultural lease, with bids to be opened in July. • granted a five-year ad valorem tax exemption to Plymouth Tube Co. on personal property valued at $737,000.
