The Waycross City Commission approved raises in contracts with two service providers last week during its final bi-monthly meeting of May.
The increases were 4.4 percent for Ryland Environmental and 3.99 percent for Inframark, LLC/ESG in resolutions considered by commissioners. Both are effective July 1 with the start of the 2026-27 fiscal year to cover increased operational costs and inflation, representatives of the companies said.
The resolutions were among four approved during the short meeting Tuesday, May 19 in City Hall. The other two also dealt with finances.
In other business, commissioners set four public hearings for next month and approved two appointments to the Ware County Housing Authority. Mayor Michael-Angelo James conducted the meeting with all five commissioners present.
The session was preceded by City Manager Ulysses “Duke” Rayford’s presentation of the FY 2026-27 budget.
Resolutions
Ryland has handled all trash disposal for the city since a contract approved in early 2024 to start with the beginning of the 2024-25 fiscal year. An increase based on the Consumer Price Index is part of its contract.
The Dublin-based firm sought now increase in its first year. Richard Lee, who presented the request for the change Monday at the commission’s planning and information session, said the hike would amount to about 39 cents more per customer if passed along.
Inframark/ESG oversees the city’s water and wastewater treatment plants and related infrastructure. It’s increase amounts to $118,395.
The third resolution was for the city’s contract with SEAS Community Partners, which provides grant writing services. The deal is for $55,000 per year on a three-year agreement, that already has produced revenue.
The final measure was a bit of recordkeeping for the city involving a Georgia Emergency Management/Homeland Security grant from Oct. 1, 2024. Last week’s approval was retroactive for acceptance of the $53,520 funds for the Waycross Police Department to be used by September 30 of this year.
Public hearings
Sessions were set prior to commission meetings June 2 and 16.
The first to consider a request to rename Newtown Community Park to J.B. Merritt Newtown Community Park will be at 4:45 p.m. June 2. Merritt was a well-known resident of the community who died in March, 2023 at age 69.
The other hearings, each of which deals with a zoning issue, will be in succession at 15-minute intervals from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m., June 16.
City Attorney Cheslyn Green also gave notice at last week’s meeting of intent to present and consider an ordinance to amend the City Charter. Readings and approvals would be needed June 2 and 16 during the commission’s regular session.
Appointments
Edward “Buster” Tyre and Cleo Price were returned to seats on the housing authority with unanimous votes of commissioners. Tyre, who’s also a member of the Ware County Board of Education, will have a five-year term while Price’s stint is for one year.
