When Watonga City Council met August 15, it asked a representative of Veterans Waste Services to be on hand to clarify the policy on limbs and brush pickup.
“My concern is – I think we need to go back to helping pick up brush and limbs for residents that can’t get them to that four-foot length and to the street,” said Mayor Bill Seitter.
Robert Williams was at the meeting for Veterans Waste Services. He explained that if a limb was longer than four feet or bigger than four inches around, it could damage the trucks, which are designed to compact the waste. Additionally, if a truck picks up more than four bundles of brush or branches per address, it will restrict the amount of other wastes the vehicle could hold. That might result in a truck having to make two trips for a single route, putting the pickup on that street behind schedule. To run a truck just for brush or limbs and debris would cost some $2,000 a day, Williams said.
“People don’t like change,” he said. “You’re the most generous city I’ve seen in 40 years.”
Williams said that the city of Tipton has constructed a drop box location for debris, but most towns handle storm debris through cleanup days. The other popular option is Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance on major storms, but the recent storms in Watonga have not achieved FEMA assistance levels.
“I’m concerned about the way the city looks,” Seitter said. “Brush is not being picked up and it’s up to 120 days before code enforcement acts. Our relationship with the citizens isn’t good right now and the town looks …” he trailed off.
“I’m not complaining about Veterans. You guys have been great. But a lot of people are upset. We have one of the highest tax rates in the state. We can’t keep putting it back on the citizens,” Seitter added.
He continued that he knew he was just one council member, but he would like to discuss picking up limbs periodically, since the city still has the equipment needed. Council members Travis Bradt and Tina Willis nodded their heads in agreement, but there was no action on the comments, as they were not an action item on the agenda.
Williams indicated that it may take up to a year for residents to adjust to the change from city trash pickup to outsourcing.
“You never charged much for trash pickup in the first place,” Williams said. “And $17.25 (the cost for a household with a single poly cart) is lower than most towns.”
Veterans Waste Services is still evaluating and purchasing usable dumpsters, and Williams said scrap buyers will often purchase those that are no longer usable as trash receptacles.