Some refuse hauling fees are increasing, and the parameters for what gets picked up from where, and for how much, are in flux.
Notable changes to the solid waste collection code include:
— A second residential garbage cart would be billed at the actual cost of the service. Residential hoppers were billed at $7 per cart. Now the first is $7, additional carts will not be subsidized any longer and the city estimates that will bring a second hopper in at a charge of $10-$13.
— The city may require medical proof of a handicap for rear-yard collection requests. The new automated pickup truck keeps the sanitation workers on the truck and on the road mostly now. Rear yard collections have always been reserved for handicapped residents, now the city may be required proof of the handicap however.
— All commercial establishments and industries within the city must receive solid waste collection services from the city, or supply proof of a contract with a licensed hauler. Mainly this stipulation affects businesses in the “central business district” or downtown. Businesses in that area previously paid no garbage fees and were not supplied with hoppers, except by special request. Community bulk containers are located throughout downtown for the businesses’ use.
— Language concerning placement of carts for emptying, storage of carts, and the types, locations and amount of permissible yard trash has been clarified.
Two not-so-neighborly behaviors regarding yard waste are now not-so-legal. Putting yard waste on someone else’s property or right-of-way without permission is banned, because each residential property is now limited to five cubic yards of yard waste collections per week (about the size of a five-burner stove). Also, intentionally blowing, raking, scattering or otherwise distributing yard waste into the street, sidewalks and onto another’s property is specifically forbidden.
The stricter language also forbids the collection of construction materials, automobile parts, tires and debris (such as dirt) mixed with yard waste to be collected with the yard waste. Residents need to call to schedule special pickup for items like furniture, carpets, appliances or other metal goods. Pickup for items less than five cubic yards is free, any larger and the fees begin at $50 and go up based on the size of the load.
Those that break the new rules will have 72 hours to correct the situation after being given a “notice of violation.” If the situation is not corrected, the city will pickup the offending materials, and code enforcement fees begin at $100 for a load less than five cubic yards.
“City staff believes the proposed ordinance will improve the efficiency of our collection system,” a presentation to City Council reads. “and eliminate the collection of materials that are generated by small numbers of customers, but require significant special handling and disposal, the cost of which is currently paid for by all customers.”
Councilman Foster Senn voted against the first reading on the ordinance changes at council’s August meeting. Senn questioned the new practice of charging central business district businesses a garbage fee stating, “I just don’t think it’s the right time for a new charge.”
Senn’s request to amend the proposal to omit those businesses from paying the fee failed due to no other council member seconding his action to remove the $60 annual fee for downtown businesses.
The initial vote on the changes passed with Senn as the lone “nay.” The measure is set for a second and final vote at council’s Sept. 8 meeting.
ON SALE, FOR A
LIMITED TIME ONLY
The council also set in its sights reducing other types of curb clutter. Namely, council is seeking to limit the amount of vehicles parked for sale on residential property and the amount of time the vehicles are there.
City Manager Eric Budds said City Council had “expressed concern about the perpetual display of vehicles for sale on residentially zoned lots in the city.”
The proposed adjustment to city ordinances would change the chapter on “nuisances, offenses and miscellaneous provisions.”
The new rule would restruct residents to selling two personal vehicles or pieces of lawn equipment per year from a household. In addition, those items could only sit with for sale signs in a yard or driveway for a total period of 90 days in a 12-month period. No commercial vehicles are allowed to be sold from residential properties.
The two “personal vehicles” that residents are allowed to sell from private property include: passenger vehicles, RV’s, motorcycles, motorbikes and scooters, boats, personal watercraft, non-commercial trailers and motorized lawn equipment.
The rule change would be enforced “on a complaint basis” and passed unanimously on first reading.
Second and final reading is set for Sept. 8 at City Hall.
In other business, council:
• Signed another lease renting property to the Newberry Dove Club.
• Gave public notice that the council will hold its annual retreat Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Firehouse Convention Center, downtown Newberry.
• Discussed a “community achievement sign policy.”
• Appointed Lisa Toland and Al Harvey to the Capital Project Sales Tax Commission.
• Heard about contractual matters relating to the Oakland Mill project and an economic development project in closed session.
• Discussed legal matters relating to a business license application and road ownership in executive session.
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