DUBOIS – DuBois City is considering a change to its billing procedures for garbage and recycling.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, council voted to move forward and hold a public hearing. The hearing has been set for 6 p.m. Nov. 25 at the municipal building.
While the proposal is subject to change, if fully approved, the city would combine billing for garbage/recycling and water/sewer.
Council Bill 1940 will be put on public display, and be available for review at the municipal building.
The first reading passed council by a vote of 3-0. Councilman Ed Walsh and Jim Aughenbaugh were excused from the meeting.
By law, City Manager John “Herm” Suplizio said residents must have garbage service. He said city officials are “hammered” with calls daily about residents who don’t.
He added that most of the work of Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer Zac Lawhead has involved trying to remedy garbage-related problems.
Suplizio said garbage has started to pile up on residents’ porches in certain areas, and Councilwoman Diane Bernardo noted that over 500 residents don’t have garbage service at all.
According to council, CB 1940 would change who collects the garbage bill. The city currently contracts with Advanced Disposal for garbage pick-up for residents.
Council said Advanced Disposal will continue to act as the primary service provider, and the listing of permitted/prohibited pick-up items will remain the same.
CB 1940 also details possible fines and legal punishments, which range from $100 to $1,000, for violations of the ordinance. Each day a violation persists would also be considered a separate offense.
The council’s meeting room was filled for the first reading of the proposed ordinance, which lasted approximately 45 minutes.
When asked, council said property owners with single-family homes would receive their bill. But under CB 1940, landlords would receive bills, and would then have to collect payment from their tenants.
Bernardo stressed that if the change received full approval, water/sewer and garbage/recycling would appear as two, separate line items on the same bill.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Suplizio said the city welcomes questions and suggestions either in-person or in writing with regards to proposed CB 1940.