Waste pickup in Baldwin clarified

Roddy Matherne, Pelican Waste & Debris, told the Baldwin Board of Aldermen Thursday that service has begun in the town.
He asked that residents place containers far from mail and newspaper boxes because of the mechanical arms trucks use to empty them.
Pickup is Monday and Thursday east of Main Street and Tuesday and Friday to the west.
There was some question about pickup of the old town-owned containers, which residents were allowed to keep. But some containers were being taken.
Matherne said the crew that collects containers was hired by the former waste handler, and they probably didn’t realize where the town limits were. He promised to get in touch with the crew’s management to correct the oversight.
Mayor Donna Lanceslin said a trailer on Rosebud Street that had been the topic of discussion recently is being repaired.
She also reported that utility bills are late due to much of the rainfall over the last month which caused many problems that delayed issuance of the bills.
Several drainage lift stations have been repaired or overhauled to help alleviate flooding issues, Lanceslin said. More are being addressed.
The board also:
—Referred to legal counsel Joseph Tabb a request from former Police Chief Gerald Minor for unused vacation compensation.
—Approved hiring and appointment of Joe Garrison as a police officer.
—Approved an intergovernmental agreement for acquiring a police vehicle from the Third Ward Court Marshal’s office.
—Approved a bucket drive for the Baldwin Beautification Club on Nov. 21.
—Deferred action on a request for an occupational license by God’s Empire Gospel Church, seeking use of the former Breaux’s Foodland building.
—Learned that the Christmas Lighting Ceremony is set for Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. at the new fire station, the former Baldwin Elementary.
—Adopted a resolution supporting the sale of Cleco by North American investor group led by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets and by British Columbia Investment Corporation.