Meeting Thursday about plan to franchise Mayfield's trash pickup

The City of Mayfield will hold a meeting Thursday afternoon with local trash pickup services to explore plans for Mayfield to contract with one trash service for the entire city.

The proposed move would bring Mayfield into the same model as Paducah, Murray and other western Kentucky cities and counties with a single provider.

Letters went out to trash services in June for the meeting required by law before bids or proposals can be solicited. As word got out to residents it spurred debate on social media.

Some residents were concerned about trash pickup rates being increased. Others claimed that some current pickup services did not have proper permits or equipment, and that streets were being damaged by multiple trash trucks traveling on the same street.

The meeting will be held at 1 p.m. at the mayor's office and is open to the public.

City projects administrator Justin Carrico said there will be many more public meetings after Thursday. He said the city was required by law to give local businesses 180 days notice before moving forward with the plan.

Carrico also said that Mayor Kathy O'Nan plans to post videos this week to explain the benefits to residents in franchising the city's trash service.