The transfer of the city’s garbage and waste management to Advanced Disposal, a private trash company, is still underway with the last few details being ironed out in the contract and fee exemptions being applied for.

The deadline to apply for a fee exemption is Dec. 31 and this exemption is for those individuals who solely have social security as their household income. That means there can be no wage income or retirement income in the household.

“Everyone with this exemption has to reapply every year for it,” Mayor George Evans said. “Even though we are switching to Advanced Disposal everyone has to reapply for this exemption.”

To re-qualify for exemption residents must bring a current benefit letter from the Social Security office to City Hall, Tax and License Department. The garbage exemption is for the year 2013. But those who have not made payments on their garbage could expect some repercussions. It is possible that those who owe the city money for their garbage pickup fees, their names may be published, Evans also mentioned.

“We want to ask everyone to help us out on that though and just come on in and pay,” he said. “Let’s not get into an embarrassing situation where your name is published for owing money.”

The Selma City Council voted to approve the preliminary contract between the city and Advanced Disposal at the Monday meeting. “Well now that we have the updated contract approved we will be starting to organize meetings.” Evans said. “We will go to different city schools and have meetings and public forums to help with the transition to Advanced Disposal.”

He said he wants to have these local meetings to cut down on the confusion and help with the changeover. The meetings are not yet scheduled but Evans said they would take place throughout the months of December and January. The meetings will include Evans and a representative from Advanced Disposal.

Much of what I have heard [about the change over] is seemingly negative,” Evans said to the council on Monday. “But I don’t know of anything when you change something that people don’t complain about — that’s just life. But the fact is we are trying to do something that will make the service better.

Evans has stated earlier that no city employees will lose their jobs in the change over. The current rate for garbage pickup will be $12 a month and billing will be quarterly.