Saturday, June 23, 2007

Commission Okays Change In Refuse Pickup

   Lawrenceburg Commissioners approved on final reading last week a change in the city’s refuse pickup ordinance.

   Under the new ordinance, residents should be aware that city employees will no longer pickup furniture, mattresses, appliances, etc., that are left on the curbside. In the future, employees with the city’s Sanitation Department will be allowed to pick up cart garbage, limbs, brush and yard waste.

   Codes Enforcement Officer Ken Nelson expressed concerns regarding enforcement of the ordinance. He indicated that employees currently make between 200 and 250 pickups per month of bulky household items. He questioned whether citizens would abide by the new ordinance.

   Commissioner Keith Durham expressed, “What it all boils down to is we’ve allowed people to develop these habits by having city employees clean up these messes…If it takes a while to change that…We need to put our foot down, draw a line in the sand, and stop it.”

   Commissioner Butch Morrow agreed, stating, “We’ve got to start somewhere.”

   Nelson explained that on other codes violations, members of his department issue citations, giving the property owner 14 days to rectify the situation. He requested that commissioners allow him to operate in the same manner in regards to items placed at the curb. Commissioners agreed.

   Second and final passage of the ordinance is expected during the commission’s July 5 meeting. Residents have until that time to clear such items from their property, else they will be cited.

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