The Martinsville City Council convened on Jan. 14 to discuss the first reading of a proposed refuse ordinance and the appropriation of funds for a new water main on Commonwealth Boulevard. The meeting marked the first regular session for newly elected council members Rayshaun Gravely and Julian Mei, after the Jan. 2 reorganizational meeting.
Greg Maggard, the city’s public works director, introduced the refuse ordinance, which aims to streamline trash collection in Uptown Martinsville by replacing curbside pickup with strategically placed centralized dumpsters.
“This will add strategically located centralized dumpsters and will help with pick-up in Uptown,” said Maggard. “It also talks about some requirements for trash cans—the size, keeping them in good condition, and having lids.”
The dumpsters will feature Bluetooth-enabled padlocks, ensuring access is restricted to Uptown residents and business owners. “Those will be only given out to those in the Uptown area,” Maggard confirmed.
While most residents and businesses already using dumpsters will not be affected, those relying on curbside trash pickup will be required to adapt to the new system. “They are all going to be in a public parking lot,” said Maggard.
Council Member Kathy Lawson raised concerns from a business owner about the volume of trash generated, and inquired whether trash could be picked up earlier. Maggard noted that the new system would free up labor resources, which could be reallocated to other city needs.
Under the current ordinance, violations of trash disposal rules carry a Class 1 misdemeanor charge, which can lead to jail time. The proposed changes would downgrade violations to a Class 4 misdemeanor, focusing instead on fines and fees. The revised ordinance also grants Public Works the authority to address violations directly.
To ensure a smooth transition, the city plans to launch a marketing campaign and hold informational meetings to educate residents and business owners about the changes. “We have the ability to modify or add additional sites as necessary,” said City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides.
In other matters:
*A citizen raised concerns about the use of the city’s logo in connection with religious events. Council member Aaron Rawls echoed the concerns, saying, “We put the city logo next to some very sketchy things.” The city attorney, Sands Anderson, acknowledged the complexity of the issue and offered to collaborate with the council on a policy regarding logo usage.
*The council also approved $110,000 for Public Works to install a new water main along Commonwealth Boulevard. This development aims to attract potential investors and make the area more appealing for future projects.
*During the meeting, Council Member Julian Mei brought attention to a “rising coyote problem” in the city. Mei urged residents to refrain from discharging firearms, even if they encounter coyotes, and confirmed that the issue would be investigated further.
