Crenshaw will pay smaller bill to county, still owes it $41,258

By Billy Davis

In a town swimming in past-due bills that never seem to go away, Crenshaw’s aldermen finally heard some good news: the town now owes fewer dollars to Panola County for its trash service.

Town clerk Renee Ward informed the board Tuesday night that town government has been overpaying Panola County Solid Waste.

“We’ve been paying for 440 cans and we don’t have that many. It’s considerably less,” she said.

How less?

“We’re going to bill them for 321 cans,” said Solid Waste clerk Jennifer Jackson, when reached after Tuesday’s meeting.

Jackson said new monthly total is $2,648.25, which is $882.75 less than the previous bill. Crenshaw currently owes Solid Waste $41,258.25. 

Aldermen wondered aloud Tuesday if the town would receive a credit for the overcount, which would obviously reduce the town’s solid waste bill.  

“We’re not saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ at this point on any credit. We’re still working on the figures,” said Magee, who oversees solid waste as the county administrator.

Crenshaw town government collects monthly garbage fees from Crenshaw residents. The town then keeps a portion of the amount and forwards the remainder, $8.25 per can, to Solid Waste.

Or at least it’s supposed to.

“We can’t spend the garbage money any other way from now on. It’s got to go to Solid Waste,” Ward also informed the Crenshaw board.

After the meeting, Ward said she was prompted to inform aldermen of the new stipulation after a state auditor visited town hall and warned the town about the proper use of the garbage fees. 

Some aldermen and Crenshaw citizens have been complaining for some time that the garbage fees flow into town hall but do not leave. That decision would typically fall to Mayor Sylvester Reed, who oversees town expenditures.

With the garbage fees remaining at town hall, the solid waste account has grown into Crenshaw’s largest overdue bill.

Reed did not attend the Tuesday meeting.

Despite the good news of new savings, aldermen learned from CPA Bob Sullivant that they should prioritize their late bills so the town can pay when it begins receiving state franchise checks, the town’s share of property taxes and other collections, in coming weeks.

“My suggestion is to get your power bill paid,” he said.

Crenshaw town government owes about $17,000 to Entergy. The largest state check will be about $20,000.

“It sure is depressing to come here, ain’t it?” Alderman David Whitsell commented at one point.