Council authorizes $73,500 tire‑removal contract after debate on illegal dumping and equity
March 27, 2026 | Savannah City, Chatham County, Georgia
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Mayor Van Johnson presided over a lengthy council debate on March 26 after Alderman Bernetta Lanier (1st District) urged postponing a contract to remove a large accumulation of illegally dumped tires on Hutchinson Island.
Lanier said the city must address illegal dumping across districts fairly and proposed delaying action 30 days to allow a fuller discussion: “My motion is for us to postpone this illegal dumping matter until April 23… so we could give all of our citizens the same type consideration.”
City Manager (transcript label 10) responded that the site is essentially a decades‑old tire landfill created in part by a former racetrack and required immediate cleanup: “It’s essentially a landfill… our sanitation department thinks needs to be addressed, now rather than later.” He told the council sanitation had recommended the contract and that staff could expand the contract’s scope and return with a plan.
Other council members pressed for a combined approach. One member offered a substitute motion asking the city manager to produce, within 30 days, “a clear, measurable, understanding of how he is going to remedy the issues” and to consider equity across districts. After discussion about enforcement, monitoring and community outreach, the motion to authorize the city manager to execute a contract with Atlantic Waste for scrap tire removal (amount not to exceed $73,500) passed.
Andrew, the city’s senior director of solid waste, clarified disposal options for residents during the meeting: “We collect tires every Friday… we come by, we collect 4 at a time for pickup,” and he noted convenience centers where self‑haul disposal is accepted.
Council also directed staff to convene a workshop on illegal dumping and to return within 30 days with recommendations about expanding scope and enforcement. The city manager agreed to provide a plan within that time frame.
The action authorizes immediate cleanup of the Hutchinson Island site and signals a follow‑up policy review and community workshop to address illegal dumping and equity across city districts.
Lanier said the city must address illegal dumping across districts fairly and proposed delaying action 30 days to allow a fuller discussion: “My motion is for us to postpone this illegal dumping matter until April 23… so we could give all of our citizens the same type consideration.”
City Manager (transcript label 10) responded that the site is essentially a decades‑old tire landfill created in part by a former racetrack and required immediate cleanup: “It’s essentially a landfill… our sanitation department thinks needs to be addressed, now rather than later.” He told the council sanitation had recommended the contract and that staff could expand the contract’s scope and return with a plan.
Other council members pressed for a combined approach. One member offered a substitute motion asking the city manager to produce, within 30 days, “a clear, measurable, understanding of how he is going to remedy the issues” and to consider equity across districts. After discussion about enforcement, monitoring and community outreach, the motion to authorize the city manager to execute a contract with Atlantic Waste for scrap tire removal (amount not to exceed $73,500) passed.
Andrew, the city’s senior director of solid waste, clarified disposal options for residents during the meeting: “We collect tires every Friday… we come by, we collect 4 at a time for pickup,” and he noted convenience centers where self‑haul disposal is accepted.
Council also directed staff to convene a workshop on illegal dumping and to return within 30 days with recommendations about expanding scope and enforcement. The city manager agreed to provide a plan within that time frame.
The action authorizes immediate cleanup of the Hutchinson Island site and signals a follow‑up policy review and community workshop to address illegal dumping and equity across city districts.
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