LIVINGSTON-Problems in the last few weeks with garbage trucks and personnel have left the Sumter County Commission looking for answers. In the last week both issues delayed garbage pick up leaving some citizens angry and outspoken about their displeasure with the procedure.

Commissioner Edward Hardwick said he would like to see something done soon to alleviate the problem.

“This has been a real touchy subject the last week and I know we have one truck ordered,” Hardwick said. “I think we need to decide if we are going to make arrangement to order another truck now.”

Hardwick said even with the new truck on its way a suitable back up would be needed. He said the trucks they are using now are just not reliable.

“The ones we have got just aren’t going to make it,” Hardwick said. “We’ve got one coming, but we need to have another one right behind it so we don’t fall into a situation where we don’t have a truck.”

Years of wear and tear have taken a lot out of the trucks currently in circulation. Hardwick said he felt they needed a reliable back up plan in case something goes wrong with the new truck.

“I think those trucks we have now have had it,” Hardwick said. “They are just worn out. They are old and worn out. I want some trucks that will run so they will not be without a vehicle. I just don’t think the trucks we have now are going to hold out.”

The process to get trucks often takes six to eight months so the commission would have to get started on the process as soon as they could. County Engineer Anthony Creer said it would likely be spring before a back up could be obtained.

“If we are going to replace the trucks we have we should think about ordering some more soon,” Creer said. “We probably would not be able to get them until March. The new truck is coming in September so if we wait a month we can’t be expecting to get a new truck in October.”

Commissioner Ronnie Beard said he would like to see the county establish a rotation as far as vehicles were concerned. Beard said this would keep fresh wheels going and make break downs less likely.

“The problem is that was have waited several years before we ordered another truck,” Beard said. “I think if we just wait three years after we get the new truck we can keep the cycle going we can rotate them out.”