CLEARWATER - County commissioners unanimously agreed Tuesday to take the first step in providing unified garbage service for eastern Lealman.
The commission vote kicks off a three-year notification period required by law. The county must inform haulers of its intentions before selecting one trash company to take care of the area's needs.
The idea of having the county contract for garbage service could expand if it is successful in east Lealman. County Commissioner Ken Welch on Tuesday said residents from the western portion of Lealman and from some parts of unincorporated Seminole also have asked how they can get unified service.
Commissioners were firm about their enthusiasm for the Lealman proposal.
"It's going to result in a better, cleaner community," Welch said.
Said Commissioner Bob Stewart: "I don't see anything negative to moving forward with this."
Ray Neri, head of the Lealman Community Association, who has headed the lobbying effort, said "the key to (improving Lealman) is the garbage collection. The whole atmosphere in that community is going to change."
Improved garbage service has long been a goal of activists from the unincorporated Lealman area, which stretches on both sides of Kenneth City between St. Petersburg and Pinellas Park from about Interstate 275 to Park Street.
The idea gathered steam after the county created a redevelopment area in the Lealman area east of Kenneth City. Activists there complained that there was no way to improve the area unless garbage service was mandatory and residents could pay lower, equal costs.
Those activists spent more than three years trying to negotiate with haulers, who did not want uniform costs across the area.
The activists also lobbied county officials for help. The county has proposed setting up a Municipal Services Benefit Unit to provide garbage service in east Lealman.
The county would negotiate with haulers on behalf of area residents. If the deal was good, the county would sign the contract and residents would be billed annually with their property tax notices.
The MSBU could take effect if one of three things happens:
At least 50 percent plus one of the property owners in east Lealman sign petitions asking for the service.
Activists began going door to door last month.
Thus far, the fledgling effort has been successful, said Eleanor Lovell, a petition gatherer who said most of the people in her area have favored it.
If activists get enough signatures, they would not have to wait three years to see the new service.
The haulers who serve the area agree to allow the MSBU to be formed.
The county is talking with haulers and, if successful, the new service could begin immediately.
The county notifies the haulers that they have three years before officials automatically form the MSBU.
