Crockett council weighs Piney Woods garbage increase and water‑district pass‑through

A representative of Piney Woods, the city's solid‑waste contractor, told the Crockett council the company is seeking a 6% rate increase on residential and commercial service starting Nov. 1, citing a 9.1% CPI increase and higher fuel and labor costs. "Our increase is 72¢ per customer per month," the company's general manager said, and he outlined investments in a transfer station, office and free roll‑off service provided during the first contract year.

Council members pressed the contractor and staff on contract terms and competitive effects for local roll‑off operators; one council member said the contract structure can exclude local businesses and asked staff to review competitive language. The mayor said the city could choose to install pedestrian signage or ask the business to pay for supplies in a separate motion.

Separately, the Houston County Water Control Improvement District asked the city to accept a 2% pass‑through increase. Staff explained the city is subject to a "take‑or‑pay" volume minimum with the district (reported in the meeting as 36,000,000 gallons) and showed options for offsetting costs by raising per‑hundred‑gallon consumption charges instead of base rates. Staff presented sample math showing a potential increase from roughly $0.489 to $0.555 per 100 gallons, which the mayor said would translate to an average $3.41 per month for a typical household.

Council directed staff to invite the water district to a future meeting to explain budgetary justification for the increase and to continue reviewing rate structures during the budget workshop. Council members urged staff to consider protections for low‑income and senior customers if rates rise.

No final action was taken on a citywide rate change during the workshop; staff was asked to return with spreadsheets and a recommendation in upcoming sessions.