Curbside recycling, cable deals get short extensions

By Staff
Leada DeVaney, Hartselle Enquirer
One service provides a way to help the environment. The other provides television entertainment.
Both are subject to contracts and both have been debated by city leaders in the past. For now, however, the contracts with BFI's curbside recycling program and Charter Cable have been extended, providing each with what could be a temporary reprieve.
Hartselle's City Council recently agreed to extend its curbside recycling contract with BFI for 18 months. The contract was set to expire Aug. 6.
Mayor Clif Knight said he talked to Decatur Mayor Lynn Fowler about his city's contract, which was set to expire around the same time. Knight said Decatur is examining possibilities for handling its own recyclables and a similar option could exist in Hartselle.
Knight said BFI agreed to the 18-month extension at the existing rate of $1.85 per household.
The extension is shorter for Charter Cable.
The council recently approved extending Charter Cable's contract for six months, with an end date of Jan. 26, 2005. This is the most recent of several extensions the city has provided during the contract negotiations.
Earlier this year, the city hired a consulting firm, Local Government Services, to negotiate its contract with Charter. Local Government Services found Charter owed the city back franchise fees and Charter agreed to reimburse city.
Charter is the city's only cable service provider and area residents have complained about the company's pricing and service. In 2003, Charter closed its Hartselle office and some residents complained about the lack of local access.