Cullman’s 2021 budget includes capital projects and purchases for each of the city’s departments, including the automated garbage trucks that are set to enter service next month.

As part of the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Budget passed during Monday night’s meeting, the city approved the $1,512,525 capital expense to purchase the new trucks and the new cans that will be required for their use.

The city first announced the switch to automated trucks in October 2019, citing the improved safety of the city’s workers who will no longer have to exit their trucks to empty trash cans.

Every household will receive one cart that’s covered under the current sanitation fee of $16. If an additional cart is needed, customers can call the sanitation office at 256-737-7560 to request an additional cart for an additional charge of $8 per month per cart.

Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs said the trash cans for the automated trucks should begin to be distributed to city residents next week, and the trucks are set to enter service on Nov. 9.

The Street Department has one major project on the docket for the coming year, with $2 million set aside to pave West Main Avenue, along with $1.5 million to continue paving neighborhood streets.

The Cullman Police Department received a little more than $343,000 for capital projects, with $140,025 set aside for buying new patrol units and $203,109 allocated for various equipment purchases. Cullman Fire Rescue also received $42,300 in various equipment purchases.

The Traffic Department will have $189,200 in capital improvements in the coming year, with $118,700 going to improvements at the 1st Avenue/2nd Street intersection and $70,500 paying for 10 new camera systems.

For the Sewer Department, $670,000 in capital purchases includes a new inspection camera and van, pull heads for pipe bursting and a new vac truck.

The Wastewater Department had several new equipment purchases approved for the year, with $70,000 allocated for two crew trucks, $45,000 for a tractor with a bucket and $35,000 for three new Ranger or Gator side by sides.

The Water Department had more than $980,000 in capital purchases, with $200,000 set aside for a new excavator, $100,000 for a new backhoe, $226,000 for two skid steers, $70,000 for a compacting roller, $125,000 for a telescoping handler, $60,000 for three new air brake trailers and $205,000 for five new crew trucks.

Cullman Parks & Recreation has several planned projects in the coming year, with a major overhaul of Nesmith Park coming in at $1.6 million. The city has received $450,000 in grants to help cover some of those costs for the project, which will include the construction of a splash pad, playground, basketball and pickleball courts, multi-use fields, walking trail and restrooms.

The department also has $200,000 allocated for continued upgrades at Heritage Park, $168,000 for the RV Park located on the Burrow Property and $50,000 for upgrades at East Side Park. The city also allocated $150,000 to purchase land at East Side Park as part of the planned upgrades.

Parks and Recreation Director Zac Wood said the Nesmith Park project should be completed in the coming year, and the RV Park is getting ready to open in the next few weeks.

As announced at the October 12, 2020, Council meeting, the City of Cullman will soon be changing the way it services residential garbage. Beginning November 9, 2020, all residents and commercial hand stops will be serviced using our new automated side loader trucks with mechanical arms.

Each customer will receive one (1) 96-gallon cart. The City-selected contractor will begin delivering the carts to customers on October 19, 2020. The contractor’s process for this will be to start delivering along Monday’s route first. Then they will move to Tuesday’s route, Wednesday’s route, and Thursday’s route in order to complete the delivery process as the routes are to be run.

Every household will receive one cart that’s covered under the current sanitation fee of $16. If an additional cart is needed, customers can call the Sanitation office at 256-737-7560 to request an additional cart for an additional charge of $8 per month per cart. (Charges listed are current as of the date of this article.)

Commercial hand stop customers will also initially receive one (1) 96-gallon cart at the rate of $60.00 per month. If needed, commercial hand stop customers can request one (1) additional 96-gallon cart for no additional charge. (Charges listed are current as of the date of the date of this article.)

NEW SERVICE GUIDELINES

· Place carts no further than three (3) feet off the roadway.

· There are arrows on the front of the cart. The arrows should be pointing toward the street.

· Cart should be placed on the opposite linear/horizontal side of your mailbox, if possible. (For example, if you stand facing your driveway and your mailbox is on the left-hand side, then your cart will need to be on the right-hand side of your driveway.)

· Place the cart at least four (4) feet from poles, fire hydrants, or any other obstacles and at least ten (10) feet away from vehicles.

· Please do not place cart on the other side of a ditch as the automated arm will not reach that far.

· All garbage must be inside the City of Cullman Sanitation garbage cart, and all garbage must be bagged. Any garbage not placed in a City of Cullman Sanitation garbage cart WILL NOT BE COLLECTED. Old trash cans may not be used as they are not designed to withstand the force of the mechanical gripper on the truck.

· DO NOT put yard debris, rocks, dirt, building and construction debris, hot or flammable items, hazardous materials, or chemicals in your cart. (The City of Cullman offers a large item pickup for an additional fee. Please call Sanitation to schedule this service.)

· Please have your cart out by 5:00 a.m. on the day of service. Garbage not out by this time will not be picked up until the following week.

· If you are moving, please call Sanitation to pick up the cart. If the cart is missing, an additional $60.00 fee will be added to your final bill for the cost of the container.

· Every cart has a serial number assigned to the address to which it is delivered. It is a criminal offense to remove a City of Cullman cart without permission from the City of Cullman Sanitation Department.

· Service days WILL NOT CHANGE. If you are unsure what day your garbage is picked up, refer to the sanitation quadrants map (available on the website – cullmanal.gov/depts/sanitation) or contact the Sanitation Department.

It is the intent of the City of Cullman to implement the automated cart system to provide a safer work environment for our employees as well as to provide an environmentally safer pickup for household garbage. This system has been proven environmentally safe for employees and households.

The City of Cullman appreciates your patience during this transition. If you need assistance, please feel free to contact the Cullman Sanitation Department at 256-737-7560 or email cityhall@cullmanal.gov.

You may also visit the Sanitation/Recycling Department’s page on the City of Cullman website at cullmanal.gov/depts./sanitation. The sanitation quadrants map and the new service guidelines are available for download from that page.