Livingston Aldermen Talk Trash, With Growing Commercial & Multi-Family Units

Livingston’s growing number of multi-family housing units and commercial properties leading city officials to examine its trash collection and sanitation procedures.

Alderman John Clough brought the topic to the agenda Tuesday night after receiving a text from former alderman Kelly Coleman. Coleman was concerned about unsightly trash he witnessed at a local apartment complex. Pictures showed trash spilling out with multiple trash bags surrounding trash cans.

Mayor Curtis Hayes said the issue is part of a bigger subject that needs to be addressed as the community grows. Hayes said he has asked the city attorney to look at the town’s codes and ordinances concerning sanitation.

“That is an area that we are definitely looking at simply because we are just not set up for commercial garbage,” Hayes said. “We are really set up for residential, and that means individual residentials, not really complexes and multi-family.”

Hayes said the city’s current truck and one planned to be purchased do not allow for automated trash pickup. Sanitation team members ride the truck and load the trash, unlike the sidearm trash cans used in bigger communities.

Clough said it might be time to require enclosed structures for multi-family facilities to help control trash and keep it as sightly as possible.

“Some folks may have to go to the private sector and get their garbage collected in the private sector because we just don’t do dumpsters,” Hayes said. “We’re just not set up for dumpsters. We’re not set up for the tall garbage cans that has the handle on it that can flip over. We’re just not set up on that.”

City Attorney Andre Greppen said Livingston has a section of the code reserved for a trash ordinance, but it is not currently used.

“We can look at other municipalities and see what they’ve done,” Greppen said. “A lot of them are different. So really, it’s just about working to create something that meets your needs. And if we need to have a work session, I’m happy to come and do that where we can go over what I’ve already prepared and see if we need to make any changes to it or if anybody else has any input.”

Hayes said he expects to bring a proposal to the council as soon as October.

In other business, aldermen voted to allow Hayes to apply for a Transportation Alternatives grant. The aldermen also approved Amanda Mainord as project administrator for the city’s ARP funds.

Aldermen also voted to turn over the June 4, 2024 election to the Overton County Elections Administrator.