In a unanimous vote, the Quitman City Council approved fireman Colton Otto to be the Quitman Volunteer Fire Department’s new chief last Thursday.

Otto has been volunteering with the department for nine years and was the department’s first choice for new chief. He will be taking over as chief for the term of two years effective April 22. Fire Chief Scott Wheeler, who has been with the department for 35 years, 17 as chief, will be officially retiring in August but will stay to help train Otto.

The council also voted to renew a contract with Republic Services to conduct trash collection. Republic representative Gene Keenon said that, in order to facilitate better stewardship of Quitman roads, which can be damaged by large truck traffic, and in order to keep costs as low as possible for the city, Republic will be doing trash pickup once a week rather than twice.

However, he pointed out that anyone who would like a second can is welcome to request one for a small fee, “(which is) just like having a trash pickup twice a week.” Republic will split the city in half and conduct trash pickup on Mondays for one half and Thursdays for the other half.

According to Keenon, every home and every small business will be receiving a new can for their trash “probably (by) the third week of July.” Those who are not able to bring cans out to the road themselves may call the city to find out more information about signing up for the Republic Handicap Service.

Quitman Water Utilities Director Dee Gilbreath let the council know that the city will be conducting a routine burn out, or temporary disinfectant conversion for maintenance, on the city’s water system starting May 5. The burn out will take a month or less.

According to Gilbreath, citizens may notice that the water “may smell like more chlorine,” and there could be a change in taste; however, all water is still safe for normal use. The city will alert citizens through their water bills, emergency alert system, social media, etc.

The city received and approved the 2024 financial audit.

The council also voted to approve the application of city council member Steve Glenn to build a 576 square foot storage shed on his property. The Quitman Planning and Zoning Commission met and approved the project before the council meeting. Glenn stepped out of the room during P&Z deliberations and the council’s vote.

Mayor Randy Dunn opened the meeting with a prayer for the families of deceased Quitman veteran Fabian Roman and deceased Wood County Deputy Melissa Pollard.