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Fayette council details response to SPLC complaint, adds dispute rights to garbage notices
Summary
After a complaint by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Fayette officials said they are complying with state code requiring mandatory solid-waste subscription, and announced updates to billing and collection notices to add a right to dispute and a 14‑day appeal window; staff reported 77 current exemptions and 40 customers over 90 days past due.
City attorneys and staff presented the council's written reply to a complaint filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center about the city's mandatory refuse-collection policy. Officials told the council that both Alabama law and the city's ordinance require mandatory participation in municipal refuse service and that the city has the authority to suspend service where allowed by statute. The attorney's response, which was included in council packets, was highlighted during the meeting.
Councilors said staff identified several improvements to the city's customer-notice process in response to the complaint: clarifying on printed garbage bills that customers have a right to dispute charges, adding appeal/hearing procedures through the city clerk, and updating the 60-day and 90-day collection notices so that customers get clear written instructions and a 14-day window to request a hearing after the 60-day notice. Officials reported 77 customers currently hold statutory exemptions and that 40 customers are over 90 days past due — a jump from 27 the prior month. “We have currently 77 customers who by the law can file for an exemption and are being exempted,” the presiding official said, and staff emphasized they will begin sending notices to customers who are 90 days past due going forward. Council said the changes were designed to make the process clearer and to reduce the number of delinquent accounts that escalate to enforcement.
