The Town of Matthews solid waste services will be provided by Waste Pro effective July 1. The move to a new solid waste provider was made with careful consideration by the Board of Commissioners. The Town's contract with Republic Services was coming to an end and was re-bid in an effort to find the most cost-effective provider who can continue providing excellent solid waste services for the residents of Matthews. We look forward to a great partnership with Waste Pro.
There are several important things residents need to know regarding this transition. For that information, including new cart delivery details, please read the article on page 4.
We are celebrating Independence Day on Friday, June 30 with a Beats 'n Bites concert followed by a
spectacular fireworks show. See page 5 for more details.
We are also celebrating Juneteenth on Monday, June 19 beginning at 4:30 pm in Stumptown Park. Read more about the event on page 3.
This will be the last issue of The Matthews Messenger in this format. Beginning next month, the Messenger will transition to a weekly newsletter. The new format will be more concise and provide residents with the latest news, information, and upcoming meetings and events.
Check out the calendar on page 6 for Matthews events and Board of Commissioners meetings so you can stay involved and engaged in all that Matthews has to offer.
The Board of Commissioners voted 5-2 to approve the Manager's Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 23-24 during the June 12 Town Board meeting.
The approved budget totals $34,364,889 and sets the new tax rate at 26.65-cents per hundred, which is an effective increase of 3.96-cents per hundred above the revenue neutral tax rate. This represents a 17.5% increase over the revenue neutral rate.
The approved budget includes significant expansions in operations to meet the needs of the organization. Those include fully funding a competitive employee pay plan, increased costs for solid waste services, funding for Fire Station #3 and increased funding for paving maintenance, among other items.
The approved budget can be found here: https://town-matthews-nc-budget-book. cleargov.com
The Matthews Board of Commissioners issued a proclamation recognizing the importance of the Juneteeneth holiday during their regular meeting on June 12. The proclamation, read aloud by Mayor Higdon, was presented to Matthews Cultural Diversity Committee (CDC) members Natisha Rivera-Patrick and Sandra Conway.
The Town will celebrate Juneteenth with an event at Stumptown Park on Monday, June 19. The festivities begin at 4:30 pm and a jazz concert performance with Buff Dillard will begin at 6:00 pm. The Juneteenth celebration will feature poetry, song, dance, art, kids activities, and food trucks Dliciousfoods313, A Pinch of Soul and Frozen Kups.
ABOUT JUNETEENTH: Juneteenth celebrates when freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops took control of the state and ensured that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two-and-a-half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as “Juneteenth” by the newly freed people in Texas. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday.
Pictured from left to right: Sandra Conway, CDC member, Mayor Higdon, Natisha Rivera-Patrick, CDC Chairperson, and Assistant Town Manager Melia Gordon, CDC Staff Liasion
JULY 1
Beginning July 1, Waste Pro will be the new solid waste services provider for residents of Matthews.
The Town is working closely with Waste Pro to ensure a smooth transition. Below is important information for residents regarding the change.
Households in Matthews will begin their service with Waste Pro on Monday, July 3. Due to the Independence Day holiday, there will be no service on Tuesday, July 4. Trash service will run on a one-day delay for the remainder of that week with Friday routes being picked up on Saturday.
Important Information Regarding the Transition to Waste Pro:
New Waste Pro Trash Carts: Please do not use your new trash carts until your first scheduled Waste Pro service day beginning the week of Monday, July 3. New trash carts will be delivered to every household in Matthews beginning June 20 through June 30.
Town of Matthews and Waste Pro
Recycling Carts:
If you currently have a green recycling cart with the Town of Matthews logo on it, Waste Pro will continue servicing that cart.
If you have a blue recycling cart that has Republic Services on it, you will receive a new recycling cart from Waste Pro.
Republic Services Cart Collection
Begins June 26: Republic Services carts will be collected beginning the week of June 26. Residents should leave the Republic Services labeled trash cart and, if applicable, the blue Republic Services labeled recycling cart out on their current service day until removed.
Residents:
A small number of residents will see a change in their service day. If you are affected by this change, you will receive a notice delivered to your home announcing your new service day. If you do not receive a notice, your service day will not change.
Waste Pro Recycling Pickup Schedule: Recycling pickup will continue to be every other week. Residents will be designated A or B week. The A and B week schedule will begin Monday, July 3. A calendar will be delivered to all households with further information. The calendar will also be posted on the Town of Matthews website as soon as it becomes available.
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Bulk Waste Service: Bulk waste service will no longer be part of the Town offered waste collection services. Residents will now contact Waste Pro to request a bulk pickup and pay a fee directly to Waste Pro. The fee will depend on the size and contents Bulk waste can also be taken to any of the Mecklenburg County disposal centers: https:// wipeoutwaste.mecknc.gov/wherecan-i-recycle
Yard Waste Service: Yard waste can no longer be placed in plastic bags for curbside pickup. Instead, residents can use paper bags, tarps, or their personal reusable yard waste container which needs to be clearly marked with the words “YARD WASTE.”
Collection Calendar: Residents will soon be receiving a new calendar with additional collection information included.
Holidays: There will be no trash service on the following days in 2023: Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. The pickup schedule will run on a one-day delay during those weeks.
Enjoy a great lineup of food trucks and a concert from The Cat 5 Band. End the night with a spectacular fireworks show!
After the concert, move toward Matthews United Methodist Church (MUMC located at 801 S. Trade Street) and MARA (Matthews Area Recreation Association located at Arthur Goodman Park, 1200 S. Trade Street) to view the fireworks!
Due to a camp performance, MUMC parking lots will not be open for public parking until 6:30 pm. For safety reasons cars will not be admitted to MUMC lots after the fireworks show begins or once the lots are full.
