Trash talk tabled again until bids revisited

0

The subject of residential trash service stirred some confusion among Greenfield Village Council members on Wednesday before being tabled until the next meeting, when the law director is to be in attendance.

At council’s last meeting, two proposals for residential, community-wide trash service were discussed, and then put into the Health, Safety, and Welfare committee for study and review. Those proposals came after council in November passed legislation authorizing city manager Ron Coffey to solicit them.

Council member Chris Borreson said Wednesday that the resolution passed in November, which he did not vote in favor of, read that Coffey was to seek bids for the “entire town,” which would include commercial properties, but the bids were only advertised for residential.

“We’re still at square one on paper,” he said. He said the resolution was not carried out as it was written.

Council’s vice-chair, Bob Bergstrom, leafed through a binder and located the resolution in question, which he said reads “village wide” in the beginning, but in section one specifically states “residential dwellings.” Bergstrom acknowledged the confusion the language presented.

Borreson said he thought one of the reasons the community-wide trash service was being looked at was to clean up the commercial residential apartments, which he said are the “worst in town.” But he said the bids sought and received exclude anything but strictly residential properties.

Following some further discussion, Borreson made a motion “to table the subject of city-wide trash collection until a new resolution is passed that is not contradictory.”

But unsure of the legality of what was being attempted, council chair Betty Jackman said the whole matter would wait for Greenfield Law Director Brian Zets, and it also would not be discussed in committee until some clarity can be gained.

In other business, committee assignments for the coming year were approved by all five council members, and new council member Mark Clyburn was chosen to represent Greenfield on the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District Board.

The board meets next in regular session on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016 at 7 p.m. at station one on N. Washington Street. The meetings are public.

On another matter, finance director Carolyn Snodgrass reported the preliminary numbers for December as: month-to-date expense, $433,344; month-to-date revenue, $725,089; year-to-date expense for 2015, $8.31 million; year-to-date revenue for 2015, $8.78 million; and the general fund balance as of Dec. 31 as $368,865.

Council members applauded not only department heads for staying within budgets, but Snodgrass for her work, especially with the added duties of managing the millions for the railroad rehabilitation project.

On a related matter, Coffey said that following a bi-weekly phone conference with the railroad project contractor Balfour Beatty, “It’s believed the project can be finished by the end of March.”

“That’s our hope,” Coffey said. The project itself was years in the making, suffering one setback after another before finally getting to the construction phase last year. “It’s been a long time coming,” said Coffey.

Since June, 24, crossings along the 29-mile rail spur have been improved, ballasts, ties, and anchors replaced, and bridgework done. Work on the bridge over Paint Creek is nearly complete, Coffey said, and the rest of the work that remains is with signals.

“It’s good to hear the contractors and engineers discussing punch lists instead of delays,” Coffey said.

Coffey also reported that Greenfield for 2015 met the standards and once again earned the distinction of Tree City USA. The award will be received on April 22 in West Carrollton. It is Greenfield’s second consecutive year to receive the award.

The city manager reported that on Jan. 10 boys and girls in grades 2 through 6 can sign up for the Tiger Basketball Academy. The cost is $20 per player. A t-shirt is included. The program will run for seven weeks each Sunday from 1-3 p.m. at the high school. He said there are already about 75 children signed up. For more information visit the Greenfield Youth Sports Facebook page.

Coffey reported that village staff is compiling information for the annual report, anticipated to be ready by the council’s next meeting in two weeks.

He said an interesting thing learned in gathering information is that about 46 inches of rainfall were reported at the waste water treatment plant in 2015, with 5.3 inches in December alone. In 2014, 34.13 inches of rainfall were recorded for the year.

The Greenfield Village Council is scheduled for its next regular meeting on Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers on the first floor of the city building. The meetings are open to the public. To be put on the agenda, call 937-981-3500.

Reach Angela Shepherd at 937-393-3456, ext. 1681, or on Twitter @wordyshepherd.

Council member Chris Borreson, left, talks about his issues with legislation involving residential trash service in Greenfield. Council chair Betty Jackman and vice-chair Bob Bergstrom are also pictured.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2016/01/web1_6Jan2016Council.jpgCouncil member Chris Borreson, left, talks about his issues with legislation involving residential trash service in Greenfield. Council chair Betty Jackman and vice-chair Bob Bergstrom are also pictured.
Clyburn to represent Greenfield on fire board

By Angela Shepherd

[email protected]

No posts to display