CAIRO — Much like Grady County, the Cairo City Council talked trash at length on Monday. 

The council approved outsourcing the city’s solid waste to Taylor Waste Services in a 3-1 vote. 

Council member Lannis Thornton was the lone dissenting vote. 

“I don’t think we’re ready for it just yet,” Thornton said of the outsourcing. 

The outsourcing — which would cost the city $91,595.75 per month — was discussed at length prior to approval. 

City Manager Chris Addleton said the outsourcing was recommended before the life expectancy of the city’s landfill ends. 

“We want to outsource before that happens,” he said, adding the recommendation was to go with Taylor Waste Services, the lowest bidder and local provider.  

During discussion, Mayor Robert Burns asked why the outsourcing the city’s solid waste was necessary. 

“Why can’t the city do the same thing?” Burns questioned about services offered through Taylor Waste. 

Addleton noted the city’s residential collection was as efficient as possible and looked into debris collection, adding privatizing would find more efficiencies. 

“Privatizing is the way to go,” Taylor Waste Services owner Chris Taylor said, also adding the city would save more on the commercial side with the outsourcing. 

Taylor said his company would be able to negotiate which landfill the City of Cairo would use in the outsourcing, either Thomasville or Decatur County’s. 

Taylor discussed his company’s bid for outsourcing at the May 8 council meeting. 

In other business, the council: 

• approved a special event permit for “Stepping Out Against Domestic Violence Walk” for Oct. 28 

• conducted a public hearing on the FY 2017-2018 budget for citizen input; no input heard 

• discussed changes to the vehicle use policy; presented at next council meeting on June 12

• approved lease agreement with Grayson Hall 

• rescheduled June 26 regular meeting to June 20 to be in conjunction with called meeting for final budget adoption for FY 2017-2018 budget 

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.