Taylors Residents Say Trash Issue Stinks

Trash talk at Taylors Fire and Sewer Commission has residents questioning if commissioners were trying to dump smaller service providers.

A letter that went out to residents in the Taylors Fire and Sewer District on department letterhead (see attached pdfs) and signed by the district's top administrators drew sharp criticism from residents in the area Tuesday afternoon.

A few months ago, the commission had been looking for ways to cut costs for trash collection at Taylors Fire Department and the Taylors Fire and Sewer building. After discussions with Greater Greenville Sanitation (GGS), it was brought to the commission's attention that the district could save money by allowing GGS to pick up the trash.

Residents were happy to hear about the cost savings the district found, but what they didn't appreciate is the commission suggesting the use of those same services for residential garbage pickup.

The letter sent to residents implied that the district was surveying residents to determine if they would be interested in the services provided by Greater Greenville Sanitation District, a special purpose district providing sanitation services for unincorporated areas in Greenville County.

In the last paragraph, the letter states the collaboration between the two entities would be beneficial to Taylors residents.

At least 900 residents received the survey. GGS received 200 responses, all of which were positive, according to Ed Marr, executive director for GGS.

"Ninety percent approval rate who asked for more information or who are interested in receiving Greater Greenville Sanitation's services," Marr said.

Residents said they don't have a problem with another garbage collection provider coming in to the district, but that they do not want an elected body of officials telling them which company they should choose, especially when it appears they are endorsing those services.

"My biggest question from the day I got this letter from Taylors Fire and Sewer is why does Taylors Fire and Sewer District care what I do with my garbage," said Meg Hunt, a resident of Taylors. "It's my choice to make that decision."

Hunt went on to say that if the commission was really trying to be fair to all providers, a letter to Taylors residents on the Taylors Fire and Sewer District's letterhead sends the wrong message. 

"There's no fairness in that," Hunt said. "When you only present one company and the others don't get the same advantage of being directly mailed by Taylors Fire and Sewer. ... How did Greater Greenvile Sanitation get the plug from y'all?"

Marr answered Hunt's comments saying that GGS went to Taylors Fire and Sewer as a courtesy and in an effort to help ease the minds of customers already in the district. Marr said that GGS paid for all of the costs of the mailing and that no cost was incurred to the Taylors district.

District commissioners did not respond to the question.

Another Taylors resident Dave Dawkins attempted to get an answer to the same question, asking if he were to start a garbage company would the district mail out his information.

Commission Chair Gilbert Rivers said Dawkins could present his business in front of the Commission at any time.

James Coleman said that he appreciates that surveys were sent out but what he doesn't agree with is that it was on the commission's letterhead.

"Regardless of who paid for it, that implies you value their services more than other private providers," Coleman told the commission. "It contradicts the way the free market works."

Coleman told Marr and others present from GSS that there was a difference in picking a local service provider, who's starting from scratch in building their business, and in choosing a provider that has a tax-base is already being forced to use.

"That's not true competition, you actually have something that's guaranteed," Coleman said. "That's not capitalism, that's government enforcement."

Another residents said he had lived in Taylors for 28 years and he's always had a choice and always been satisfied by his sanitation choice.

He said the whole situation sounded like annexation and he didn't like it.

The Commission tried to assure the public this was not annexation, but many residents said it sounds that way to them.

Again, the question came up as to why the letter was sent on the district's letterhead. Chairman Rivers said he did not know, but that he would find out.

Marr said that this is a still a learning process for GGS as this is the first time they have stepped out of their special district to enlist customers without having been asked to do so.

Marr said that the letter was meant to be a courtesy to Taylors customers and that perhaps things should have been done differently.

"Maybe we should have sent it out on our letterhead," Marr said.

When asked if Samantha Bartow, director of sewer services, would sign a letter for the other service providers on letterhead to be distributed to Taylors residents, Bartow responded that the letter states, "that we currently use Greater Greenville Sanitation."

Bartow said service providers would have to present in front of the Commission.

The Commission reminded all attendees that they each resident still has the right to choose their own garbage collection provider.