In tough budgetary times, local governments must make sacrifices. So, too, must their constituents.
A reminder of that came Monday when the City of Monroe's Board of Public Works rejected a proposal to reinstate the free bulky waste pickup program. The program, which allowed residents to place household items outside of their homes to be picked up free of charge by city crews, was dropped last year because of budget constraints. Residents still can dispose of large objects on a fee-based sticker system.
The free cleanup was an extremely popular program. It also was controversial, as it brought with it scavenging of items set outside that was deemed by the city to be illegal.
So it did not go unnoticed when the program was not included in the 2009 budget. It's not in the tight 2010 budget, either. Alderman Jan Lefevre on Monday asked that the city discuss charging everyone a small annual fee to reinstate the cleanup day.
That idea, correctly, was rejected by the board. Public Works Director Kelly Finkenbinder told the board that a single cleanup day was less cost-effective for the city than picking up items on regular trash days through the sticker system.
The days when cities had enough cash in their coffers to offer free bulky waste pickup to residents are gone, possibly forever. It was a luxury, albeit a welcome one, at the time.
But the city no longer can afford such luxuries. And it's not as if it has closed off any way for residents to get rid of the appliances, furniture and other items clogging up their basements and storage areas. Far from it.
The sticker system can be utilized at any time, allowing property owners to get rid of their bulky waste on their own schedules. Boll also pointed out Monday that residents can take their items directly to the landfill at a cost of $42 per ton - a relatively inexpensive fee.
Using the city sticker pickup system is more costly. In the past, the pickup of a refrigerator has cost $50; to get rid of an air conditioning unit has cost $40. But if residents want the convenience of having the city come pick up their stuff rather than having to haul it to the landfill themselves, it must cost enough for the city to recoup its expenses. That's just a budget reality.
A reminder of that came Monday when the City of Monroe's Board of Public Works rejected a proposal to reinstate the free bulky waste pickup program. The program, which allowed residents to place household items outside of their homes to be picked up free of charge by city crews, was dropped last year because of budget constraints. Residents still can dispose of large objects on a fee-based sticker system.
The free cleanup was an extremely popular program. It also was controversial, as it brought with it scavenging of items set outside that was deemed by the city to be illegal.
So it did not go unnoticed when the program was not included in the 2009 budget. It's not in the tight 2010 budget, either. Alderman Jan Lefevre on Monday asked that the city discuss charging everyone a small annual fee to reinstate the cleanup day.
That idea, correctly, was rejected by the board. Public Works Director Kelly Finkenbinder told the board that a single cleanup day was less cost-effective for the city than picking up items on regular trash days through the sticker system.
The days when cities had enough cash in their coffers to offer free bulky waste pickup to residents are gone, possibly forever. It was a luxury, albeit a welcome one, at the time.
But the city no longer can afford such luxuries. And it's not as if it has closed off any way for residents to get rid of the appliances, furniture and other items clogging up their basements and storage areas. Far from it.
The sticker system can be utilized at any time, allowing property owners to get rid of their bulky waste on their own schedules. Boll also pointed out Monday that residents can take their items directly to the landfill at a cost of $42 per ton - a relatively inexpensive fee.
Using the city sticker pickup system is more costly. In the past, the pickup of a refrigerator has cost $50; to get rid of an air conditioning unit has cost $40. But if residents want the convenience of having the city come pick up their stuff rather than having to haul it to the landfill themselves, it must cost enough for the city to recoup its expenses. That's just a budget reality.
