Environmental Services project nears completion

The new Morgan County Environmental Services building will open in about three weeks.

Morgan County Environmental Services is about three weeks away from occupying a new facility in the Hartselle-Morgan County Industrial Park.
“We still have a couple of compressors to be installed inside and some parking lot paving work to be done,” Environmental Services director Ricky Brooks said.  “We hope to be in by the middle of next month.
“It’s a big step up from the 14 foot-wide trailer we’ve been using at the District 2 shop on Shull Road in Hartselle for the past 15 years,” he said. “It will be sufficient for our operation for many years to come and it’s going to save many thousands of dollars.  And the best part is it’s paid for.”
The main building consists of three offices, an employee break room with lockers and shower and three service bays, two of which are inside. In addition, a four bay detached truck shed is located behind the building, with one of them reserved for washing.
The shed will enable us to park the garbage trucks under a roof and prevent the steps from icing over during freezing weather, Brooks said. “It not only will help protect the vehicles but make working conditions safer for our employees.”
A second phase of construction will add a transfer station at a time yet to be determined.
It will be used to compact garbage and enable it to be hauled to the Decatur-Morgan County Landfill in a large trailer truck, one to two loads per day. At present, 10 route trucks, when full, have to make their own hauls to the landfill.”
“We’re going to save a lot of money in man hours, fuel and wear and tear on trucks when
the transfer station is built,” Brooks said.
Environmental Service has a staff of 30 employees and provides  once weekly garbage pickup for 16,500 customers in rural Morgan County as well as the municipalities of Priceville, Falkville, Somerville, Eva  and Trinity.
The building project was awarded to E-Tech Construction in 2009  on a low bid of $1,074, 473. Change s made during construction have  raised the cost to $1318,056. Underwood Associates provided architectural service s.  It was self-fundmeaning
Environmental Services is self-supporting with operating income coming solely from garbage pickup fees. Customers pay $12.50 per month for weekly roadside pickup service.