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The DeLeon City Council met in regular
session, Thursday, December 13, 2007 with all members present and
addressed a lengthy agenda.
There were no “Citizen Presentation”
participants, but three individuals were present to discuss their
water bills. Jean Childress was concerned because her bill had gone
up, and wondered if it was going to continue to rise. Council members
explained several factors in the recent rate increase -- including an
increase in what the Upper Leon River Municipal Water District charges
DeLeon for water. Childress said she’d already stopped running her
dishwasher to conserve water, and made several jokes about hoping she
wouldn’t have to bath less often. “I was just wondering if it’s going
to keep going up,” she said.
Mayor Danny Owen assured her that the
council hoped it would not.
Frances Taber then voiced a complaint
over a bill (for more than $200) that reflected a leak and expressed
frustration over not being alerted by city employees. City Secretary
Karen Wilkerson noted that the higher-than-normal bill was spotted and
a “re-read” was ordered. Taber (who lives part-time in Arlington) said
that the bill was already too high by the time the water could be
turned off and the leak fixed. During a lengthy discussion about water
and water issues, Taber mentioned that perhaps a “PTA” bath was the
answer. When asked by one of the council members what a PTA bath was,
Taber’s reply (not suitable for a family newspaper) resulted in shock
and laughter from council members and audience members alike.
Ultimately, when the council could not
satisfy Taber’s request for a discounted bill (reminding her that if
they made an exception for one, they would be setting a precendent for
numerous others who might want adjustments on their bills), Taber said
that it appeared that her only recourse would be at election time with
her vote. She also noted that perhaps she would run for office
herself, adding “I can do a better job.”
Andre Koda discussed his dissatisfaction
over a large water bill he received recently for one of his buildings
downtown. Koda’s belief, expressed at times in an extremely frustrated
manner, was that the water meters are not read each month, and that
“estimating” the bills meant that he was actually being billed for a
water leak that should have been the previous owner’s responsibility.
During a lengthy, and at times
contentious discussion, council members and Rob Duncan (public works
administrator) assured Koda that all meters are read each month. After
saying “You’re going to do what you want to anyway,” Koda abruptly,
and angrily, left the meeting.
Councilman Howard Gifford then asked
Duncan, “Can you assure me that the meters are being read?”
“Yes,” Duncan said.
Prior to the water discussions, Autry
Andress discussed problems with trash pickup at his place of business,
the Maroon and White Carwash.
“My trash hasn’t been picked up since the
15th of November,” Andress said. “I’ve hauled two-thirds of a trailer
load off, twice. It’s a problem, and I don’t know what to do about it.
I don’t just get trash out of cars when they’re washed and cleaned up.
I get dead animals, tires, household trash, kitchen trash, and a dead
turkey after Thanksgiving.”
Andress said that the problem was a
health hazard and an odor issue.
“I had enough barrels,” Andress said,
“and they were taken off each week, but I kept having to add them
because people kept dumping. Is there any kind of ordinance about
people dumping trash on other people’s property?”
Since Andress’ problem was two-fold --
people dumping trash on his property, and IESI waste services not
picking up any of the trash -- a general discussion followed regarding
possible solutions.
Council member Gayle Stroud wondered if
any of the code enforcement ordinances addressed those issues, with
others noting even if one did, that policing the situation to enforce
the ordinance would be difficult.
Mayor Danny Owen noted that he’d met with
IESI representative Gerry Alston, and informed him about Andress’
complaints with the trash service.
“He said he’d make contact with you,”
Owen said.
“I don’t think he will,” Andress said,
“They’ve already run into my building and never contacted me.”
After a bit more discussion, Mayor Owen
said he understood Andress’ frustration over the trash situation. “I
am aware of what you’re talking about,” Owen said. “Last Sunday I
drove by (the carwash) and it (the trash) was lined up along the wall
there. Mr. Alston said there could be a small dumpster that would be
locked, and you would be the only one who could put trash in it, but
that won’t cure your problem, because they’ll just stack trash around
it.”
“And my trash cans should be open so
people (customers) can put trash in them,” Andress said. After a bit
more discussion, in which City Secretary Karen Wilkerson noted that
another DeLeon business had the same problem until they put in cameras
and were able to identify the culprits and file charges, Andress said,
“For people to dump their household trash there is like dumping it on
my front yard, that’s the way I look at it.”
Andress noted that his main thing --
above and beyond the dumping -- was his wish to have his trash picked
up.
“Can I get it hauled off?” Andress said.
“I’m paying for it, and I want to get it hauled off. Will they pick it
up?”
“I would think so...unless it’s tires or
batteries,” Owen said. Andress had previously noted that he had paid
somebody to haul the tires off.
“Does it have to be in the green
containers?” Andress asked.
“That’s what they’re saying,” Wilkerson
said.
“I was under the impression that on the
bulk stuff, like leaves and stuff like that, you could have them in
those black plastic yard bags,” Mayor Owen said.
“But I think for the regular trash, that
you used to have regular trash cans for, they have to be replaced with
these green containers that will be rolled out by the street on pickup
day,” Councilman Howard Gifford said.
“They’re suggesting with him, and the
amount of trash there is up there, that he get a dumpster,” Wilkerson
said. “Because even with another polycart, there’s still not going to
be enough room.”
“Well there would be, if people would
just put the trash from their cars in there,” Andress said.
“I can see his concern,” Owen said, “if you put a large dumpster out
there, in two months you’d need two large dumpsters.”
“Yes, I have at least three cases of beer
bottles in there every Monday morning,” Andress said.
Audience members then asked about what to
do with limbs and leaves, if they (IESI) weren’t going to pick them up
once they were bagged.
“I was under the impression they would
pick them up in bags,” Owen said, “but I guess I’m going to have to go
back to the table and negotiate more.”
“Let me ask you this,” Andress said. “If
I got another green barrel (polycart) and had one on each side, by
each vacuum cleaner...and did away with all the other barrels, and
there’s household trash in bags laying there, are they going to pick
it up?”
“I don’t think so,” Owen said.
“They won’t,” Karen Wilkerson said, “they
didn’t pick up mine at home.”
Councilman Roy Dale Freeman asked Andress
if he had any suggestions.
“I’ll tell you,” Andress said, “that I
didn’t have any problem with the other trash people.”
Andress’ remark prompted one audience
member to ask why the city changed to a new company.
“They (the previous company) sold out,”
Wilkerson said.
“As far as I’m concerned, my trash pickup
has gone to nothing,” Andress said. “Maybe other people like it -- and
I’m sure it’s alright for some, but there ought to be a plan B. I
can’t control people leaving their household trash there.”
“I thought maybe you had something
specific in mind,” Councilman Freeman said.
Andress indicated he did not, then went
on to add that when he first opened his car wash there were only three
or four barrels necessary, and that because of the amount of trash,
he’d worked up to “probably 10 barrels.”
“I’m thinking about taking them all away
and leaving the green one there and seeing what happens,” Andress
said. “Maybe, if there’s not a barrel to put it in, they won’t -- and
maybe, they won’t put it on the ground.” He then threw the question
back to the council, “Do you all have any suggestions?”
“That (taking away the other barrels)
sounds like a good way to start,” Councilman Gifford said.
“Their (IESI) contract’s up July 1, for
this trash service,” Wilkerson said. “So I’m going to be advertising
for bids, probably next month.”
Andress noted that the other company had
willingly “overworked themselves” to make sure that his trash was
picked up.
“Where is your trash on pickup day?”
Councilman Gifford asked. “Are you leaving it up by the vacuum
cleaners?”
“Yes,” Andress said.
“That may be why they’re not picking it
up,” Gifford said. “They say it has to be within four feet of the
street.” He then explained to Andress how the new system works, with
the driver operating a robotic arm to pick up the polycarts without
ever leaving the truck.
Andress then said he would put the trash
out at the curb, and see what happened. “Other than that, I don’t know
what to do,” he added.
When Wilkerson told him that he could
always haul it to the city yard dumpster, Andress said, “That’s what
I’ve done for the past two weeks. And since I’m paying for it, I hate
to be doing it myself.”
“Right, I don’t blame you,” Wilkerson
said.
“If this doesn’t work,” Owen said, “I’ll
set up an appointment with you, Mr. Alston and myself and see if we
can reach a goal where you don’t have to haul the trash yourself.”
The council then voted to take no action,
and to continue monitoring the situation.
In other business, Council members:
• Approved rental of the City Hall
auditorium for a birthday party at the request of Ouida Gartmas
• Approved the Tax Statement for November
2007.
• Approved second reading of Ordinance
#016-07, Goods in Transit taxation.
• Approved the minutes for the regular
meeting on November 29, 2007.
• Tabled a decision on whether to supply
the animal control officer with a rifle, pending further information.
• Voted (after a brief closed session) to
move Chief Ralph Dickey from hourly pay to salary.
In the open discussion between City
employees and officials, Mayor Owen updated everyone on the progress
at the new park. Council member Gayle Stroud discussed several events
that she and Councilman Gifford would like to see get started at the
new park. Councilman Gifford also noted that he’d like to thank Chief
Dickey, and officers Dustin Paulsen and Ben Rowell, for their
willingness to work so much overtime during the months the department
was short-handed. Karen Wilkerson updated council members on a plan to
begin publishing warrants in the newspaper. |
