City to crack down on illegal dumping in downtown dumpsters

Downtown business owners who pay for weekly and biweekly garbage service, have filed complaints with City of Cairo officials about illegal dumping in dumpsters located in the central business district. Impacted business owners say often times the dumpsters are full or overflowing with the trash of others.

Councilman Bobby Gwaltney brought the subject up at Monday night’s city council meeting. The primary complaints are from business owners who pay for dumpsters located in the central business district, west of South Broad Street.

According to Gwaltney, one dumpster identified as for use exclusively by a downtown restaurant does not appear to be abused, but other nearby dumpsters that do not have lids are frequently filled with others’ garbage.

“I don’t know if we put a sign on it or put a dumpster with lids on it if that would help or not,” Councilman Gwaltney said.

Cairo city manager Chris Addleton said this was the first he had heard of any complaints and he suggested having the police closely monitor and patrol the area as well as putting a sign on the dumpster would be his first course of action.

Councilman Demario Byrden suggested if the city established a “harsh fine” it might deter those from illegally dumping.

Addleton reminds the public that the county operates manned dumpster sites where trash can be disposed of during business hours, or garbage may be disposed of in rollaway containers at the city’s sanitary landfill.

In other business Monday night, the council:

• Heard a request from Councilman James H. (Jimmy) Douglas for city attorney Thomas L. Lehman to bring forward revision to the city ordinance regulating permits for the razing of structures to shorten the length of time property owners had to begin work and complete significant progress on razing structures deemed a nuisance.

• Authorized Mayor Howard Thrower, who was absent Monday night due to a family member’s death, to execute documents for the city to receive federal coronavirus relief funds. The city is eligible for an advance amount of $147,133.64 and a total appropriation of $490,445.48. The city manager said the city would have no difficulty in justifying its COVID-19 related expenses in order to receive full federal funding.

• Introduced a new solar panel ordinance that permits ground mounted solar energy systems only in I-1, I-2 or agriculture zones within the city. A final vote is anticipated in two weeks.

•Approved a special event permit for “Community Outreach at Davis Park” on Sept. 26 from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. The application stipulated a 6 a.m. start time, but city parks do not open before 7 a.m. According to city officials, organizers may begin to set up earlier, but the event start time must be 7 a.m. to coincide with the park’s hours.