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Today's Poll: What will you do with your yard waste this year?

By Howard B. Owens
Dave Meyer

The city has NEVER had curb side yard waste pickup. Your headline makes it seem like we have had that before.
The ONLY time I've ever had anything picked up was after a catastrophic ice storm when there was no other choice, but for your garden variety pile of sticks and branches, the bottom line is that "service" is not part of what we get for our taxes.
I've been complaining about this for years to anyone who will listen, but it's gotten me nowhere.

Mar 17, 2009, 3:47pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

Howard, David is right, this is a little misleading. There will be no change in yard waste pickup for this year. The service will remain as it always has been. City crews will do the normal leaf pickup at the end of fall as usual.

Mar 17, 2009, 3:49pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

If enough people want a service the city can do it but, there is going to be some cost associated. I really haven’t heard too much demand for yard waste pickup.

I personally would pay extra for it, who else would? If we did have the service, how often should the city do a yard waste pickup?

Mar 17, 2009, 6:20pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

OK, I'll take this poll off the home page.

With this note -- if Jason would answer questions, or allow others to answer questions ... I would have called the city to ask for more information ... the thought crossed my mind, but what's the point since Jason refuses to answer questions from us and won't allow other staff members to answer even such a simple, basic question.

Mar 17, 2009, 3:59pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

Ask me or another Council person to find you an answer. That's what our job is. That’s what I did in this case. I read what you had posted and checked to see if we had changed the leaf pickup.

Mar 17, 2009, 4:05pm Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

If it's not considered recycle, according to the "list", then you put in garbage bags and put it out on the curb silly.

Mar 17, 2009, 4:03pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Don't get me wrong, I feel bad about the mistake. But I literally went through the thought process of "I should call the call the city and double check this" followed immediately by "what's the use -- I won't get an answer."

It remains very frustrating that Jason keeps the city locked down on comments.

We're still waiting on an answer to our last FOIL request.

Mar 17, 2009, 4:12pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

I’m not concerned about the mistake, those things do happen.

I will always do my best to answer any question you have but, Jason manages the city and that is not my place. We have a Council\Manager form of government; it is supposed to be non-political. Council sets direction, provides oversight and information to the public. The City Manager runs the day to day operations of the city.

Mar 17, 2009, 4:30pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

Charlie..A Few years back we had a one time deal, were you could throw out any thing you wanted and the city picked it up..It was some kind of spring clean up program .I would like to see something like that..I think it would be worth the cost..

Mar 17, 2009, 5:51pm Permalink
John Roach

I agree with Mark, but it would have to wait until next year to be in the budget.

I would like to see sidewalk repair done again. We have some repairs done with grant money, but no real plan to fix all the sidewalks.

Years ago, City Council stopped adding sidewalk repairs to the owner’s property tax, saying the city would take it all over. That sounded great, except the city never had any money to do the job. We should return to repairs being made by the city and the cost added to the property tax to be paid over a 10 year period. The property owner would also have the option of having it repaired on his own. If done right, our sidewalks would finally be repaired in a few years instead of almost never as they are now.

Mar 17, 2009, 6:38pm Permalink
Dave Meyer

I'm hard pressed to believe that the DPW is SO BUSY that they couldn't spare one truck and one or two staff to pick up large amounts of yard debris.
In the spring, almost everyone has a big pile of branches and sticks that have fallen off their trees. If one doesn't have a truck what is one to do? It's ridiculous.

As a matter of fact, as I write this, some guy at the end of my street has raked a HUGE pile of debris right into the street. Apparently he's not from around here.

As I said earlier...this has been a pet peeve of mine for years. Every time Charlie has come to my door during a campaign, he's heard about it from me.

How about this for an idea. Set up a request form on the city website for residents to schedule a pickup. Limit every address to some number of pickups per year. It just seems to me that this is a basic service that we ought to expect for our tax dollars.

Mar 17, 2009, 7:17pm Permalink
Timothy Paine

I know not everybody on my street has access to a truck. I let them know they can just throw all the sticks and limbs in my trailer. Whenever it's full I take it to Law St.

Mar 18, 2009, 3:48am Permalink
Beth Kinsley

I wish you lived on my street Tim! I have no truck and no way to get it there. I wish they would come around just once in the spring to get yard waste.

Mar 18, 2009, 7:23am Permalink
Karen Miconi

I just now found this blogg. Try living on Vine St. I have not a single tree in my yard, but have had to rake out everyone elses garbage, and leaves 3 times so far this spring. The people that don't know about the city not picking up the debree, simply scoop their leaves into the street. They in turn blow down the street into our yards.
I also love when some of the people on this street put their garbage out in a wind storm. They watch as it blows down the street and ignore it for days after garbage pick-up. They knowingly drive over it, and leave it for someone like me to pick it up. I now take pics every Sunday of the garbage, and if it ends up in my yard, it is returned to its rightful owner.

I have entertained the thought of BILLING THE CITY for my hard work. Maybe only then will they reavaluate the situaion. This is very unfair!, and is Different for everyone.

Apr 7, 2009, 1:04pm Permalink
Karen Miconi

Gabor, its the lazy people, that won't get off their DUFF and pick up their yards, and garbage.{Except the elderly and handicaped} I can't stand a Dirty Neighborhood. Its embarassing for me to see the garbage in the streets. We should all make an Honest effort to "Keep Batavia Beautiful". Its not to much to ask, is it?

Apr 7, 2009, 1:18pm Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

I rent an apt and pick up after myself. I will assume that my four neighbors do the same so where is all the garbadge coming from where I live ? everyday i come out and pick up: lottery tickets food stuff garbadge wrappers and roof shingles. Well thats the landlords debris coz the building needs a new roof. The garbage gets taken care of when he actually mows the lawn a few times a year. I am lazy enuff as it is but continue taking other tenants garbadge out and chasing the recyclables down the street. People have actually stuck take out styrofoam containers with chicken bones in our hedges ! If i owned a house I would be working 24/7. I am sure my neighbors complain A lot but of course I cant be held liable and i bet the fines are cheap enuff that i dont see the landlord much ever unless i am late with the rent !

Apr 7, 2009, 1:39pm Permalink

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