Gene Wieneke

Sunday, May 27, 2007

City to Change Refuse Collection Rules


The Northglenn Council is looking to get in your pocketbook within ninety days and again in November. In the near future I will have some information on the $25-28 million dollar recreation center project being developed based on biased information, but first, we need to talk trash.

Council Member Martin sponsored a proposed staff ordinance making radical changes to your trash collection service. Key elements are: There will be no more annual city wide clean-ups. The City’s approved refuse polycarts, or equivalent, are mandatory. Tree and shrub branches can no longer be bundled and placed on the ground for pick-up. Existing plastic and metal garbage cans are outlawed. The bagging of leaves and grass clippings for pick-up will be allowed again on a temporary basis.

I objected to the ordinance as written in an email to the Council because it did not contain a waiver provision for special circumstances. Operation Clean Sweep may warrant a city wide clean up in the future and the Council should retain the right to authorize one rather than ignore its own law. I also think the Council should have the power to authorize a waiver when the next storm hits the City of Trees.

The good news is that following a little discussion the Council tabled the ordinance on the 21st until it could discuss it in a study session. If you have any feelings about the proposed ordinance, you might wish to contact a council member. You will not be allowed to speak at the future study session.

The justification for formally considering an ordinance with such major changes without prior discussion was, to “Give the public notice.” This does not sound to me like an honest answer. With the monthly Connection newsletter, web site, Sentinel and Channel 8, there are proper avenues to communicate with the residents. Another reason given was, to “correct” the ordinance adopted last month banning all types of bags. I am pleased some of you read my last piece on the subject and took the time to contact the Council. Time for another contact.

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Bags of Grass Clippings/Leaves Outlawed

The use of plastic bags for the disposal of grass and leaves is now prohibited in the city. In addition, the City has taken another step leading to a completely mechanized trash collection system with the adoption of the ordinance. The initial impact was described in the May issue of the Connection Newsletter.

In my July 13, 2006 posting I stated that the day was soon approaching when all residential trash and garbage would have to be placed in a container that can be emptied with the mechanical arm of future refuse trucks. The placement of items for collection outside of the “acceptable” trash container will not be allowed. For more details see the July 13th archive.

The members of the City Council followed their normal procedure in adopting the ordinance. If the staff says it is alright, there is no reason to evaluate its provisions; let alone read it. I don’t believe any of them intentionally outlawed plastic grass and leaf bags, but they did. In describing approved containers the ordinance says, “And specifically not including trash bags or boxes of any type.”

I already made an inquiry of some council members about the outlawed plastic bags. I was told that the staff would probably waive the requirement at certain times of the year. WHAT? The staff is going to voluntarily, on their own authority, ignore the municipal law without any provision in the ordinance authorizing waivers. There is a name for that crime and it is called Nonfeasance of Office.

Come on Council, amend your new ordinance and start reading further submissions from the attorney. Is it also acceptable for the police department to voluntarily start waiving enforcement of other ordinances? Finally, where does the liability fall when the local laws are ignored? Guess where.