Humboldt holds routine board meeting discussing new business

HUMBOLDT, Tenn.  —  During the city of Humboldt’s regular board meeting on Monday June 9th, Mayor Marvin Sikes and the board of alderman approve new business resolutions for the 2025-26 year.

The first resolution 2025-05 is approved to contract with the Tennessee Department of Transportation for assistance in construction and completion of the industrial access highway under the provision of the Industrial Highway Act of 1959.

The board also deliberated a proposal from Gibson county Mayor Nelson Cunningham regarding planning grant funds.

The board moved to approve resolution 2025-06 to apply for 2025 planning grant funds in conjunction with Gibson as well as providing up to a twenty percent match with participating communities including Rutherford, Bradford and Humboldt.
The grant is approximately $80,000 that will be divided between the cities a part of it.

In more new business, an ordinance authorizing city employees to run for elected office in the city of Humboldt was not approved by the board in a vote with the mayor and aldermen opposing this decision.

For the final order of new business, the general manager and vice president of Republic Service solid waste addressed their concern regarding a potential breach in the city’s current contract with Rakk Solid Waste disposing trash pickup in a nearby landfill. According to Mayor Sikes, Rakk Solid Waste refused to render service because of non-contracted landfill tipping fees.

According to Republic Service, their claim is based on section 5.09 of the contract stating disposal is included in the weekly price. According to Mayor Sikes, Rakk Solid is asking the city to pay up to 100-thousand dollars in fees to cover the costs which Republic Service says they would’ve taken care of if the city hadn’t ended their contract with them.

The board is undecided on weather it’s Rakk Solid’s responsibility or the city’s.

“That should’ve been answered or questioned before we made a decision that say we gone give you a contract,” said Vice-Mayor Leon. “I had nothing to do with the negotiating of this contract even though I’m being beat up on facebook. It was 3 to 2 and you see how upset Mr. Leon is? It’s because this is going to cost our citizens,” said Mayor Sikes.

According to Mayor Sikes, the comptroller office says sanitation has to be funded. But, since appropriating funds aren’t budgeted, the cost could come out of taxes raising them $250 dollars more a year which averages out to be approximately 20 cents a day.