Limestone County Commissioners on Tuesday told a Limestone resident they’ve taken steps toward reducing the amount of litter on U.S. 72, but some problems are out of their control.

Keith Anderson, who is also an Athens business owner, spoke to the commission last month about the amount of trash strewn along rights-of-way and in the medians. He again asked commissioners what could be done to address the problem.

District 3 Commissioner Jason Black and District 4 Commissioner Ben Harrison said they had both been in contact with an official at Republic Services about the issue. Republic Services operates the county’s transfer station on BFI Lane.

If the tops of sanitation trucks traveling to the transfer station aren’t covered by a tarp, garbage is more likely to blow out. Harrison said an official assured him tarps would be repaired, which he believed would cut down on the problem.

There could be pressure to address the issue soon as the Solid Waste Authority — comprised of members of the County Commission and officials with the city of Athens — prepares to renegotiate the contract with Republic Services.

Commission Chairman Mark Yarbrough, who serves on the authority, said he was concerned by the litter, but added the problem “is hard to control.”

Black has relied on state prison inmates to pick up litter in his district at a cost of $20 per day. He explained, however, that because of an overcrowded prison system, there are fewer officials available who can drive inmates around and also watch them on a worksite.

“They haven’t been able to do it,” he said. “They’re overwhelmed with the population.”

Anderson asked Chief Deputy Fred Sloss, who was at Tuesday’s meeting, if the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office could write citations. Sloss said tickets can be written, but only if a deputy observes garbage blowing out of a truck. He added the sheriff’s department had also received assurances from Republic Services that trucks would be covered.

Anderson then asked if a deputy could stake out a spot on U.S. 72 to observe a littering offense as it occurs.

“We respond to numerous calls and serve warrants and don’t have the luxury to wait on the garbage trucks to come through,” Sloss said. “We would be happy to have increased patrols (in the area), but having a deputy there at that spot (isn’t feasible).”

District 2 Commissioner Steve Turner said the trash isn’t just a problem in the western part of the county, but it’s in East Limestone, too. He said it’s not unusual for a litter crew to spend up to three days a week in his district picking up litter.

Black explained the litter isn’t just an eyesore, but it may also create other problems like stopping up drainage ditches. He said attention to the litter issue could be the biggest deterrent.

“They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease,” he said. “This may be the squeaky wheel.”

In other business Tuesday, the commission:

• Approved an Emergency Management Performance grant in the amount of $2,266.00;

• Approved funding for an Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program project to replace a bridge on Quinn Road over Beauchamp Creek in District 4. Total funding for the project is $799,589.64, though only the county’s portion will be $159,917;

• Approved closure site assessment agreement in the amount of $10,000 with Great Southern Engineering Inc. to close an underground fuel tank at the county’s shop on Cherry Street in Athens;

• Approved an Alabama Department of Transportation confidentiality agreement for the purpose of allowing Limestone County access to certain sensitive and protected ALDOT information;

• Transferred $6,000 from ad valorem tax to the building fund to cover adjustments made to judge’s benches in the Limestone County Courthouse;

• Awarded a bid to Taylor Power Systems for two or more new generators at a cost of $18,047 each for Limestone County Emergency Management Agency;

• Promoted Andrew King to deputy;

• Employed Elizabeth Ann Davis and Cody James Little as corrections officers, Scott Smith as an equipment operator in District 3, Chad Kilgore as a part-time litter patrol driver in District 3 and Daniel Reese as a communications officer;

• Made the following revisions to the Limestone County subdivision regulations: Section 2-1-60 c. The division of land into parcels greater than two (2) acres wherein all of the following criteria are met; and Section 2-1-60 c (iii). There will no additional storm water runoff created; and

• Approved the sale of a 1998 Chevrolet van on GovDeals for District 3.

Commissioners’ reports

• Turner said joint work between the county and city of Athens to replace pipe on Nick Davis Road may begin Thursday, weather permitting. He said if the work can’t begin that day, it would begin next week.

• Harrison said his crew would be replacing 17 driveway pipes on Parker Road to improve drainage ahead of improvement projects on Parker, Baker Hill and Elk River Mills roads. He asked drivers to use extreme caution in areas where county employees are working.

The commission will meet again for a work session on Wednesday, March 1, at the Washington Street annex.