A problem with residents neglecting the city’s garbage ordinance was discussed during a meeting Monday of the Loyall City Council.

Chris Haught, who was named as the new police chief in Loyall last month, says 36 residents of Loyall do not pay a garbage bill. He said so far he has only given out courtesy stickers.

“It seems that most people have pretty much ignored the courtesy stickers. I think that if one person pays a garbage bill, it’s only fair that all the citizens have to pay one. A lot of garbage is unaccounted for, and it has to be going somewhere,” Haught said. “The city of Loyall is the only city I know of that even passes out courtesy stickers. Other cities simply issue court citations right off the bat.”

Haught went on to say that he plans to stop giving out courtesy stickers on May 15 and will begin to issue citations.

Albert Roper, a member of the Loyall City Council, says improved enforcement of the garbage ordinance would be good for the city.

“We have to be able to keep this city clean. It has gotten to the point where people ignore it, and it needs to stop. People need to be fined because that is the only way to keep our city clean. If they keep ignoring the ordinance, then something has to be done about it,” Roper said.

Also discussed during the council meeting was the announcement of a new fire chief. Vern Guffy was named to the position and said one of his main goals is to get more Loyall residents involved in the department.

“When there is a fire in Loyall, firefighters are having to drive usually between five and 10 minutes to get down here to help out. In a lot of cases, that is just too late. We need trained people here in Loyall who know how to deal with a fire,” Guffy said. “We are looking for any volunteers here in Loyall that we can train. It doesn’t matter if they’re male or female. I just want the residents of Loyall to feel safe. That is my main goal.”

Guffy grew up in Loyall and joined the Loyall Fire Department in the late 1980s. He joined the Harlan Fire Department in 2001, a position which he still holds. He announced during the council meeting that a siren will begin to sound in the city every day at noon. The siren will last for 15 seconds and will sound anytime an emergency occurs. During emergencies, the siren will last for three minutes.