At this month’s Minden City Council meeting, Mayor Nick Cox announced a new amendment to the city’s trash collection contract with Republic Services, introducing changes aimed at improving the efficiency of the city’s waste removal services. The updated agreement, set to roll out in January, will bring several new benefits for residents, including a dedicated website for service requests and complaints, the option to request additional trash bins, and free landfill access for citizens who already pay a monthly sanitation charge. Alongside the waste management updates, the council also approved new water service access for residents along Guy Miller Road, reappointed a member to the Downtown Development Commission, and celebrated several promotions and new hires within the Minden Police Department.
“This is a new deal with Republic. It changes the way our trash is done in the city. It kind of spells out what we feel like, the council and I, would help us successfully get our trash picked up with the contract we currently have. So it’s an amendment to that,” said Mayor Cox.
“This is something we’re planning to roll out in January, and it may take a week or two into January.”
The mayor went on to explain what the amendment would change, describing the services available to residents and the creation of a new website for Republic Services to give citizens a place to reliably contact them.
“Republic is going to make a City of Minden Republic Services website just for Minden, so all of our users will be able to go to the website and log their complaints,” said Mayor Cox. “I know not all of our citizens use the internet, so you’ll still be able to call the city, and we’ll do it for you if we need to.”
“This website, they’ve assured me, will be actively monitored. We don’t want a website where you go on there and log something, and nothing happens. They’ll be held accountable,” said Mayor Cox.
Some services that the Mayor described include citizens being able to request an additional 96-gallon trash can to use for the once-a-week trash pickup. He also mentioned the ability for Minden residents who are paying the monthly sanitation charge on their utility bill will be able to dump residential trash at the landfill for no additional charge.
“If you’re a citizen of Minden, and you have a residential house utility bill that has the sanitation charge on it … you’ll be able to take that utility bill and your driver’s license, as long as the bill is in your name, and go to the landfill now and be able to dump residential trash for free at the landfill,” said Mayor Cox.
“No longer will you be charged as a citizen that already pays for trash pickup if you want to just take it out there yourself. That’s something that the council and I are very excited about.”
The council unanimously voted to grant a request for access to the Minden Water System for residents along Guy Miller Road who are out of city limits. “We have a situation out on Guy Miller Road,” said Mayor Cox.
“Guy Miller Road is mostly in the city limits, but there are a few residences right beyond the city limits, and their water wells are down, and they, at the moment, until we vote on this, they don’t have any water.”
This vote essentially allows the city to take these residences on as customers, though they will have to pay out-of-city rates for their water access.
Later in the meeting, the council approved the reappointment of Brian Meeker to fill another three-year term on the Minden Main Street Program / Downtown Development Commission.
There were also a slew of Minden Police Department promotions and new hires. The council unanimously voted for Minden Police Officers Marlin Choyce, Dedrick Anderson, Jr., Jessica Thompson, and Branthony Brown to be promoted to Police Officer First Class. The council also voted DeAveon D. Benjamin and Austin M. Clauston to fill two fulltime Police Officer positions for the police department at the recommendation of Police Chief Jared McIver.
At the end of the meeting, Minden City Councilman Buddy Myles took the time to share his and the rest of the council and the mayor’s appreciation for the hosts of this year’s National Night Out events. Proclamations were given to the hosts that attended in person, including Mt. Zion Lay Ministries, Harvest Manor Apartments, Delta Sigma Theta Minden Alumnae Chapter, and New Light Missionary Baptist Church.“We appreciate everyone who threw a party this year, and we hope that we can have even more next year. Thank you,” said District A City Councilman Buddy Myles.
Minden City Council meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at 6PM at the Minden Civic Center. Meetings are open to the public and, for those who cannot attend in person, are also livestreamed on the City of Minden’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, both titled “City of Minden.”