Document text
http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend October 13, 2006 Central Point City Council takes on garbage By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT ­-- After reviewing an ordinance initially intended to mandate garbage service for all city residents, city council members proposed some changes that would simply require garbage to be disposed of on a regular basis. A first reading of the ordinance was approved by council members and could garner final approval at the council's next meeting on October 26. City staff and police officials initiated consideration of the ordinance in recent months due to garbage collecting unnecessarily alongside homes or in various other containers not regularly cleaned out. Garbage buildup had caused resident complaints ranging from upset neighbors to unpleasant odors and a potential increase in rodents. Thursday, Mayor Hank Williams was just one voice in opposition of mandatory garbage service for all residents. Advertisement "I'm a little bit hesitant to try the mandatory (service)"¦ I like the requirement (for landlords to provide service)," Williams said. "In a perfect world, you get a complaint from a citizen, go out and check up on it, if it's valid, give them a 10-day notice and in 11 days, call the garbage company and tell them to clean it"¦ then bill for the service." Council member Nate Banry questioned how a mandatory ordinance would be enforced while council member Becca Croft felt the city needed, simply, to find a way to require garbage removal, whether by service or otherwise. Police Chief Jon Zeliff said garbage accumulation, in some cases, was a law enforcement issue and that an ordinance mandating trash removal would provide an additional tool for police. "If you allow neighborhoods to become blighted, crime tends to go up," Zeliff said. "If we can do things as a police department and code enforcement to clean up the community, People tend to take a little more pride in their neighborhoods"¦ crime goes down." Rogue Disposal attorney Dick Stark said the garbage company was not necessarily in favor of an ordinance requiring all citizens to subscribe to trash pickup due to issues of enforcement. In addition, Stark pointed out that residents who fail to pay their bills would have service discontinued after about 30 days and collection bins reclaimed within 90 days. "Rogue (Disposal) would be glad to work with (code enforcement officer) Ron if you want us to pick up a mess and lien the place," Stark said. "Whatever we could do to correct this problem"¦ we've found in other cities that the mandatory service, when people don't pay, you still have this problem." Council members suggested language changes to the garbage ordinance to include exceptions for residents on vacation and those with alternate methods of disposing — on a regular basis — of trash buildup. Residents in violation of the city's junk accumulation ordinance, already in place, face fines of up to $250 per day. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Texas Electric Choice Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com