The city of Selma is taking extra steps to make sure that a 2002 ordinance requiring citizens to sign up for garbage service is enforced.

At a recent city council meeting, it was announced that the city will hire a new employee to serve as a waste management coordinator. Selma mayor George Evans said around 20 people have applied for the position.

Evans said he is hopeful residents will see the move as a reminder that they need to sign up for Sea Coast collection or someone from the city will be contacting them.

“It’s important that not just a few people do it, but all people should. If they’re a resident and they have a water bill and a light bill and a gas bill, they should have a garbage bill,” Evans said.

Sea Coast Disposal project manager Dale Purdie said there are roughly 4,500 households that have signed up in Selma, with 800 of those being on exemptions. Purdie said that leaves about 1,500 of the total 6,000 households in Selma still without garbage service.

“We do have a list of some of the people who haven’t signed up,” Purdie said. “We are going to forward that to the city and the city is going to publicize that.”

Evans said the waste management coordinator is responsible for not only making sure Selma residents sign up for the service, but also making sure they pay their garbage bills once they sign the contract.

The first garbage payment of $40 covers the months of February and March. The following payments will be $60 quarterly.

Purdie said that if residents sign up today, Sea Coast will work to get them a cart within 24 hours of registering.

“I encourage them to get down to the office, sign up so we can have the cart issued, so that the city won’t issue them a citation for not being in accordance with the city ordinance,” Purdie said.

Evans encourages those who have yet to sign up to make sure they do that as soon as possible to avoid getting in trouble with code enforcement and having to appear in city court.

“It’s about getting the garbage and trash off the streets,” Evans said.

For more information about registration, call 874-7320 or visit www.seacoastdisposal.com.