Cusseta‑Chattahoochee approves exclusive solid‑waste contract with GFL; residential fee set at $20 per month

The Unified Government of Cusseta‑Chattahoochee County voted July 2 to accept GFL's proposal for exclusive residential and commercial solid‑waste collection under a contract recorded in the minutes. Commissioners approved the motion to accept GFL as the lowest bidder; the motion was moved by Commissioner Damon Hoyte and seconded by Vice‑Chairman Timothy Biddle and the vote was recorded as unanimous.

The contract text included in the meeting record sets an exclusive three‑year franchise period beginning Sept. 1, 2024, with an option to extend. It obligates GFL to provide one weekly collection to residential premises and to furnish 95‑gallon rollout carts. The written agreement in the minutes identifies a baseline of 1,300 residential units and lists a residential price of $20.00 per month per 95‑gallon cart and a $14.00 monthly charge for additional 95‑gallon carts. The contract also specifies a 10% commercial dumpster rebate to the county (an example in the exhibit shows a $90 dumpster rate yielding a $9 monthly rebate).

Why it matters: the contract changes who collects household trash across the county, fixes fees used in billing schedules, and grants an exclusive right to the contractor for the duration of the term. The minutes and contract text indicate the County will invoice and collect residential service fees and the contractor will bill the County for services rendered; commercial billing is to be handled by the contractor with the county receiving the stated rebate.

Details from the contract record: the agreement requires that all collected refuse be hauled to a permitted Subtitle D landfill or transfer station with tipping fees paid by the contractor; adjustments to rates tied to disposal cost changes are contemplated by the contract and require county approval. An addendum in the record (backdoor service) allows the contractor to provide collection from a designated in‑yard location for residents who cannot place carts at curbside; the county will maintain a list of eligible residents who qualify for that service.

What commissioners said and next steps: Commissioners framed the vote as a routine award to the lowest bidder; the motion to accept GFL was the formal action recorded in the minutes. The minutes record that rate adjustments and renewals will be subject to future negotiation and the county’s review. The full, signed contract language and exhibits are included in the meeting record (see the minutes for SEGs 004–018 for the contract text and Exhibit A).