During discussion of the management fees from Charter Communications and Waste Management during Monday’s Pearl River County Board of Supervisors meeting, it was mentioned that tonnage at Central Landfill has been on a decline.

Vice President Hudson Holliday said that he’s noticed that total tonnage at the local landfill has been on a decline and suspects it may be due in part to the city of Picayune’s recent change to a new waste disposal service.

What is especially concerning is the tonnage that produces revenue for Waste Management, since if the landfill would to become unprofitable, then the county could be forced to make some changes.

According to information provided in a Waste Management quarterly statement for the third quarter of 2018, total tonnage in July was 4,737 and in August it was 4,733, of which tonnage collected in Pearl River County was 3,096 and 2,982 respectively. In September of this year, total tonnage was 4,093, of which Pearl River County tonnage was 2,336.

County Administrator Adrain Lumpkin attributed the drop in tonnage to a change in the city of Picayune’s waste contract. According to previous coverage that service switched from Waste Management to Coastal Waste Services in September of this year. Lumpkin said that Coastal Waste Services brings the waste it collects to a site in Louisiana.

The Board approved a motion to accept the check from Waste Management for $7,986 and a check from Charter Communications for $26,114 for franchise fees.

Holliday also updated the Board on the fact that the Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home’s critical access status has been granted for four more years. Holliday attributed that extension to a recent visit the Board made to Washington DC to speak with state legislators, including Senator Roger Wicker and United States Congressman Steven Palazzo. He suggested the Board send them both a letter of appreciation. 

Lumpkin said that the financial status of the hospital is also improving. While the facility is still struggling, he said that he received reports that it was profitable this year, allowing to remain open and provide jobs to 300 people.