Council discusses draft MTSU service-fee, solid-waste pickup schedule change and a study into annexing Middle Point Landfill

City staff updated the council on several city-service items on Feb. 13: a draft service-fee agreement with Middle Tennessee State University for off-campus residential properties, a proposed change to the municipal solid-waste pickup schedule and a proposed staff study into annexing Middle Point Landfill.

Darren presented a draft five-year service-fee agreement covering 48 properties MTSU owns around campus that are leased for residential use. Using an impact study from 2022 and internal calculations, staff said the draft fee would be $848 per property per year; the fee would be payable annually and would not be charged for properties that were vacant or converted to nonresidential institutional uses. The city would recalculate the fee within 180 days before the end of the five-year term to set a new rate for a subsequent term. Darren said the draft agreement assigns the fees to public services including public safety, parks and recreation, streets and solid waste. No council action was requested at the meeting; staff said the draft was for review and further negotiation.

On solid waste, Russell (solid-waste manager, last name not specified) told the council the department proposes changing the pickup schedule to Monday–Thursday (from the current Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday pattern that leaves Wednesday for maintenance) and to reassign some routes so that about 11,500 residents would have a revised pickup day. Staff said residents would continue to receive weekly collection; the change principally affects which weekday their service occurs. Russell told the council crews would use the former Friday maintenance day for operational needs and washing. Staff described a sticker/tag and mail/website communications campaign and said crews would likely do courtesy pick-ups early in implementation for missed collections.

Separately, Mayor Mary McFarland asked planning and legal staff to study and return with a proposal for annexing the Middle Point Landfill. The mayor said a 30-year leachate agreement (referenced in the meeting) included a clause in which the landfill operator (formerly BFI; later Republic) agreed not to contest annexation requests. She said annexation could allow the city to collect property taxes on the landfill and urged staff to prepare a planning commission submittal and a council report. Council did not take a formal vote on annexation during the meeting but the mayor asked staff to "start that process," and staff agreed to begin work.

Council members praised staff work on the MTSU negotiations and asked for continued communication about the solid-waste schedule changes so residents know their new collection days. Staff said it would prepare materials for council and public distribution and asked for time to finalize details on the MTSU fee proposal before returning with an agreement for council consideration.