BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
LOVELY — Vanover Sanitation was awarded the garbage hauler contracts for two additional routes in District 4 during the June 16 Martin County Fiscal Court meeting and has changed the pickup day for those areas due to the early closure of Howell’s Recycling on Fridays.
Bill Vanover, owner and operator of Vanover Sanitation, said it is impossible for him to complete two runs of garbage pickup and make it to Howell’s to dump before noon on Friday. He has changed the pickup day for Riverfront Road and the route that begins at the Pigeon Roost Community Center and includes the communities of Pigeon Roost, Frog Pond, Rt. 2032 and Rockcastle Road to Monday.
“I have added another garbage truck to my fleet, as well as an additional driver and thrower,” said Vanover. “One truck will begin picking up shortly after 8 a.m. at the Pike County line on Riverfront on Mondays, and the second truck will be at the Pigeon Roost Community Center the same day around 8:30 to start that route.”
Vanover will continue to pick up his original route that extends from the turnoff to Wolf Creek from Route 292 and concludes at the community center on Wednesdays.
The fiscal court had agreed to cover the garbage fees for the two additional routes in District 4 formerly covered by Joe’s Garbage Removal until the end of June, with the customers being responsible for payment as of July 1.
“With the 10 percent rate increase approved by the fiscal court, the monthly charge for the three routes I serve will be $16.50, and that needs to be paid before July 5,” stated Vanover. “My drivers do not accept payment since it delays them and can also hold up traffic, so my customers will be required to mail a check or money order to Vanover Sanitation, PO Box 2055, Inez, KY 41224.”
The canceled check or money order receipt will serve as the customers’ proof of payment.
Vanover also said that in the near future he would be offering customers the option of paying via PayPal. He advises customers to check Vanover Sanitation Facebook page for that announcement.
As before, the rules set in place by the fiscal court in the solid waste ordinance apply, which allows for five 33-gallon black garbage bags or seven 13-gallon white bags per week, with additional bags costing $2 (black bags) and $1 (white bags). The weight of any single bag may not exceed 40 pounds.
“When the truck is empty, it’s not a problem for our throwers to toss the bags in, but once the truck begins to fill up and we have to close the gates, the thrower has a harder time getting them up and over when they are heavy, and that could easily result in the worker getting hurt and we want to avoid that at all costs,” Vanover explained. “We also remind our customers that the trash bins/cans are required to be within 8 feet of the county-maintained road.”
Vanover encourages landlords who own rental property to inform their tenants of the requirements to sign up for service and says they should also inform him when they have someone move out and a new renter move in so there’s no breakdown in service.
Vanover expressed his gratitude to the residents of District 4 and District 5, who supported his effort to successfully bid on the two routes that became available following the termination of the former hauler’s contract. He feels his years of service and dedication to his customers and the respect he earned through those years were the reason he was supported in his endeavor.
“I have always gone above and beyond to make sure the residents on my routes received the best service available, and I was quick to step up and accommodate the special needs of my elderly customers that had a hard time getting their garbage out to the road at times,” said Vanover. “They knew all it took was a phone call and I’d come right to their door to get their trash.
“I was disappointed during the May fiscal court meeting when the decision to choose a hauler was tabled, but the residents of this district quickly voiced their displeasure with the actions of the magistrates, and when time for the June meeting rolled around, it was a different story. I appreciated that more than I can say.”
To contact Vanover with any questions regarding garbage pickup in the three areas he serves, you may call 606-390-5237.