Residential, communitywide trash service could be coming before the Greenfield Village Council for consideration in the near future.
Legislation passed at council’s last meeting in November allowed city manager Ron Coffey to seek proposals for residential trash service on a communitywide scale. At Wednesday’s meeting, he said he has sent requests for proposals to “three solid waste companies and one trade publication.”
A bid opening is scheduled for Dec. 14 at noon. Following that the proposals will be reviewed by the finance committee, and “if it is felt that residential service for all Greenfield residents would benefit our citizens and our community, the matter would be brought to council for consideration,” Coffey said.
The city manager has said previously that when the matter of communitywide trash service was addressed in the past, it was not a popular subject with residents. But he said this week that such a service could save residents money and help with some of the village’s ongoing trash issues.
“If it is something that will save people money and keep our community cleaner, it is worth looking at,” Coffey said Wednesday.
In other business, with the approaching end of the year and the need to fill expiring seats on various boards and commissions, two people were nominated by Coffey and approved by council members: Joseph Voshall for the recreation commission and Michelle Cunningham for the board of zoning appeals.
Coffey also informed council that a board of tax review needs appointed before the end of the year. The need arose from Ohio’s “reworked” tax laws and the requirement of municipalities “to do the same so that there is continuity” statewide on income tax ordinances, he reported.
The committee will consist of three members, two appointed by council and one by the city manager. Coffey asked for council to have names of appointees for its next meeting on Dec. 16.
Greenfield has once again applied with the Arbor Day Foundation for Tree City USA status because the village has met the standards for the second year, Coffey said.
Village workers are working on a second pass picking up leaves on the south side of town, and following that will do another pass on the north side, Coffey said. After the scheduled passes are complete, Coffey said leaves will have to be bagged before they can be picked up.
Council and Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District Board member Bill Redenbaugh reported on the district’s last meeting held Nov. 24. He said insurance costs were discussed, with a slight increase in property insurance, and about a 20-percent increase for employee’s medical coverage. He said that while Paint Creek “had an excellent rating,” others in the pool did not, which facilitated the cost increase.
Redenbaugh said the district has still not received word from BCI about the status of the investigation of chief Bradley George, though he said the board is hopeful to hear something by next Tuesday’s regular meeting.
The fire board is scheduled to meet again on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. at the North Washington Street station. The meeting is open to the public.
A number of Christmas-themed events are happening Saturday in Greenfield and include the Modern Movement Dance Company’s Breakfast with Santa at the Eagles Lodge from 9 a.m. to noon; Spark Creative Artspace’s Open Studio and free Children’s Christmas Decorations Craft Workshop from noon to 4 p.m.; and the 34th annual Eagles Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. On Sunday is the Greenfield Historical Society’s Tour of Homes.
On financial matters, Greenfield Finance Director Carolyn Snodgrass reported preliminary totals for November as follows: month-to-date expense, $1.41 million; month-to-date revenue, $1.54 million; year-to-date expense for 2015, $7.88 million; year-to-date revenue for 2015, $8.10 million. The general fund balance as of Nov. 30 was reported as $437,131.
Reach Angela Shepherd at 937-393-3456, ext. 1681, or on Twitter @wordyshepherd.
