Chesterfield County Council launches ordinance to exempt 100% disabled veterans from new service fees after public complaints

The Chesterfield County Council on May 4 voted to begin an ordinance to exempt residents who are 100% disabled veterans from newly listed service/user fees after public concern that fee rules and billing have changed without clear public notice.

The decision follows public comment from resident Kirby Hughes, who told the council the rules for the solid-waste fee have been altered "as we go along," including a recent restriction on disposing of wood at convenience sites and apparent billing of businesses that are ineligible to use those sites. "Residents who already pay private contractors for garbage pickup are being charged twice," Hughes said.

Chair (name on file in the meeting record) cited state statute 12-37-220 and explained the reason the fees were added to tax bills: "State statute 12 dash 37 dash 2 20 says that individuals exempt from ad valorem taxes under SC code are not exempt from…