Big Stink Over Garbage Trucks for Brownsville

 

 

Lynn Bledsoe

Gimlet Managing Editor

 

At the August 4, 2025, City Council meeting Tony Zaragos addressed the council about the wet waste leakage from the garbage trucks. Then a few days later Zagaros visited the Lions Club and addressed them about the same issue. Zaragos issue was that there is leaking trash from the trucks that lands on the streets. During the Lions Club Fair Parade and the Christmas parade candy is thrown and kids pick this up and many times eat it while on the sidewalks. Zaragos feels this is a health hazard to children.

Tony asked to speak at the next City Council meeting to bring to the council’s attention what an eyesore and smell the garbage trucks presented to the city, being parked in the middle of town and being so visible.

There seemed to be some confusion as to what Zaragos asked for: he said he asked to speak, the Cities office stated he asked to make a motion.

Zaragos was told he could not make a motion at the City Council meeting. Zaragos feels this limits his free speech by not allowing him to speak. He also feels that is part of the Councils job, to listen to residents’ concerns. Mayor Simon stated that the Sept. meeting is full but if Zaragos wants to speak at the October meeting he could be placed on the agenda. He began a petition to have the garbage trucks moved. In a short time, he had 75 signatures.  The purpose of the petition was just to bring awareness to the council. The trucks are parked in close proximity to a church, a BnB, a restaurant, a school and a daycare.

 

 

Some of the questions he has are: Can they move the trucks to another location? Is it beneficial to Brownsville to continue trash pick-ups, since the trucks seem to break down a lot. Can the City not fence in the area of the old factory and move the trucks there? All are valid points presented by Zaragos.

The city has a responsibility to its residents. The main one is to be good stewards with finances. For several years now the City of Brownsville has been losing money on the garbage pick-ups. Recently the City raised rates to be able to break even. Mayor Ricky Simon stated that he felt it was a benefit to residents to have regular pick-ups they could depend on than it would be to pass the burden on to another company who may not be able to pick up the trash on time or miss weeks altogether. Mayor Simon also stated that a fence is an expense that the city cannot afford. If the trucks were moved to the empty lot, there would be vandalism. He also stated that most of the time the trucks are moved when the church holds service.

All City Council meetings are open to the public, to come and listen. As to the issue of the parade almost all the streets on the parade route are state streets, not city streets. State streets have a different set of regulations that the City cannot do anything with.