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In an effort to save the county money, the Charlotte County convenience centers began operating under new hours Aug. 3, with several centers closed during the weekday.

On Wednesday, Aug. 28, just weeks after the new hours took effect, Charlotte County Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Robert Shook Jr. addressed concerns in a reconvened meeting of the board.

Shook, who represents the Keysville district, said citizens are leaving trash outside the gate of the Keysville and Madisonville centers on the days the sites are closed.

“I know in Keysville, and I’ve heard of others we’ve got a problem with people who come on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s they are leaving the trash outside the gate or throwing inside the gate,” said Shook. “This is unacceptable,” Shook said that his suggestion is to put up signs at the centers informing citizens that dumping trash is not acceptable and they will be prosecuted.

Shook also noted that in the past the Keysville center was getting waste from both Lunenburg and Prince Edward County residents because their centers were closed. “Right now, we have no way of knowing what county these people are from when they come to the center’s, and that presents a problem,” he said.

Supervisors discussed the idea of having a vehicle sticker or a card that could be used to identify an individual’s residence when they come to the centers. “I know that in Buckingham they have cards that they use to swipe in and out,” said Cullen/Red House representative, Crystal Shepherd. Shepherd also noted that dogs have been getting into the trash that’s being left outside of the Madisonville center. “That’s unacceptable; It’s gross,” she said. “We don’t want our County to be known for that. I do think something needs to be done.”

Wylliesburg/Red Oak Supervisor Kay Pierantoni said she had spoken with officials in Halifax that used a sticker system and suggested that the board talk with other counties to learn more.
Supervisor Gary Walker suggested installing video cameras at the centers. “I think if they are throwing trash out, then they should be prosecuted,” said Walker. “You get their picture and prosecute one or two of them it’ll stop.” Walker did point out that with the amount of trash coming into the Keysville center that the board may want to look at leaving that one open.
“We created this problem because we reduced the hours,” said Aspen/Phenix Supervisor, Donna Fore. “So, if there’s anybody to blame it’s us, not the citizens. Now. I’m not in favor of people leaving their trash outside the convenience center that’s wrong. But if we’re going to fix the problem, we have to restore the convenience center hours. We haven’t just hurt the citizens because we’re not providing a service, but the people that work there have reduced hours, so we’ve hurt everybody in the process of this crazy reduction of hours in the convenience centers. I wasn’t for it. I’m still not for it.”

Chairman Garland Hamlet, Jr. suggested changing the hours again to give citizens more time but pointed out, “depositing trash on the outside is a terrible way of displaying your disagreement with the board.”

At the end of their discussion, the board made no motion or decision and will revisit the issue at their September meeting.