Council denies request to bill business trash service through town for apartment above Granny’s Goodies

The Mulberry board voted 3-1 to deny a request by the owner of Granny’s Goodies Bakery to add a town‑billed trash can for an apartment associated with the commercial-metered property.

Council members explained the town’s contract with its trash provider ties service billing to residential meters; commercial meters do not qualify for town-covered residential trash service. Staff said the previous board had granted a trash can for the apartment and the owner had paid for it in the past, which complicated the decision. Several councilors warned that approving the request would set a precedent obligating the town to provide similar billing for other commercial-metered properties with apartments.

After discussion, a board member moved to deny the request to bill the trash service through the town utility for Granny’s apartment; the motion was seconded and carried 3-1. A dissenting member noted sympathy for the returning business and suggested the town could explore contract or meter solutions, such as establishing a separate residential meter for the apartment so the tenant could receive standard residential service.

The board asked staff to follow up on options (changing meter classification, discrete billing arrangements or revising contract language) but did not direct immediate policy changes.