[I. Call to Order]
[1. Roll Call]
[00:00:10]
CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.PLEASE CALL THE ROLE COUNCILMAN KUHL.
PLEASE STAND AND JOIN IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, THE LACK OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD AND INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY, BE AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WE BEGIN OUR MEETINGS WITH APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS AND THE POLICY RELATIVE TO APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS IS AS FOLLOWS.
EVEN THOUGH YOU UNDERLINED IT.
[II. Proclamations and Recognitions]
A PROCLAMATION.UM, IF I COULD HAVE ROBERT ARCHER, UH, COME TO THE PODIUM PLEASE.
UH, HE HAS A PROCLAMATION FOR D MOLAY MONTH.
MY NAME IS ROBERT ARCHER AND I'M THE CHAPTER ADVISOR FOR THE DE MALAY CHAPTER HERE IN DECATUR.
WE'VE ONLY BEEN BACK IN ACTIVITY FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
UH, WE WERE ORIGINALLY OPENED IN 1933 AND FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS DUE TO LACK OF ACTIVITY, WE DID GO DARK FOR A WHILE, BUT WE ARE BACK OPEN.
UM, WE ARE A CIVIC SERVICE ORGANIZATION THAT TEACH YOUNG MEN HOW TO BE THE NEXT LEADERS FOR THE COUNTRY THROUGH CIVIC ACTIVITIES AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT ACTIVITIES AND RAISING MONEY FOR, NOT FOR OTHER, NOT-FOR-PROFITS.
WHEREAS DEAN MALAY IS A CHARACTER BUILDING ORGANIZATION FOR YOUNG MEN FROM THE AGES OF 12 TO 21.
AND WHEREAS THESE YOUNG MEN ARE SEEKING TO PREPARE THEMSELVES TO BE BETTER CITIZENS AND LEADERS FOR TOMORROW, AND WHEREAS DE MALAY HELPS DEVELOP THOSE TRAITS OF CHARACTER WHICH HAVE STRENGTHENED GOOD MEN IN ALL AGES.
AND WHEREAS THE ORGANIZATION HAS CARRIED OUT THE AFOREMENTIONED GOALS OVER THE LAST A HUNDRED YEARS AND LOCALLY FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS AFTER BEING ABSENT FOR 20 YEARS THROUGH PROGRAMS OF ATHLETIC COMPETITION, SOCIAL ACTIVITY, CIVIC SERVICE, AND CHARITABLE PROJECTS.
AND WHEREAS THE MEMBERS OF JEROME MAR GOREN CHAPTER WILL BE OBSERVING THE MONTH OF MARCH AS DELEE MONTH TO EXEMPLIFY TO ALL CITIZENS HERE AND EVERYWHERE, THERE ARE MANY ACTIVITIES.
AND TO RECOGNIZE THE MILLIONS OF SENIOR DE MALAYS AROUND THE WORLD, I CALL UPON OUR CITIZENS TO JOIN US IN SALUTING THE YOUNG MEN OF DELEE AND IN EXPRESSING OUR GRATEFUL APPRECIATION FOR THE FINE EXAMPLE THEY SET AND IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW THEREFORE, JULIE MOORE WOLF MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR DUE, HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MARCH AS DE MONTH.
IF YOU'D BRING THAT UP HERE, MR. ARCHER, I'D BE HAPPY TO SIGN IT FOR YOU.
[III. Appearance of Citizens]
NOW, BACK TO OUR POLICY REGARDING APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS.A 30 MINUTE TIME PERIOD IS PROVIDED FOR CITIZENS TO APPEAR AND EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL.
EACH CITIZEN SPEAKING WILL BE LIMITED TO ONE APPEARANCE OF UP TO THREE MINUTES.
NO IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WILL BE GIVEN BY CITY COUNCIL OR CITY STAFF MEMBERS.
CITIZENS ARE TO GIVE THEIR DOCUMENTS, IF ANY, TO THE POLICE OFFICER FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE COUNCIL WHEN THE MAYOR DETERMINES THAT ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS POLICY HAVE DONE SO.
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND KEY STAFF MAY MAKE COMMENTS.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO, UH, SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TONIGHT ON A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM.
YOU ARE ENTITLED TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME AS WELL FOR THREE MINUTES, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE YOUR THREE MINUTES ON THE AGENDA ITEM.
SO I'M SURE THERE'S SOMEBODY OUT THERE WHO MIGHT LIKE TO SPEAK TO US THIS EVENING.
UH, SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPROACH THE PODIUM, WE NEED YOUR NAME FOR THE CLERK TO RECORD.
UH, BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GIVE US YOUR ADDRESS.
I DIDN'T SPEAK TO ANYBODY AHEAD OF TIME.
JUST GIVE US, MY NAME IS RUSSELL FORT.
UM, I HAVE TO COMMEND YOU GUYS.
YOU GOT ME OFF MY SOFA FOR THE FIRST TIME.
UM, I'M HERE ABOUT THE YARD WASTE, UH, ORDINANCE AND THE NEW RATES THAT WENT IN.
AND I'M HERE TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN MY REPRESENTATION.
I'VE WATCHED THE MEETING FROM DECEMBER THE FIFTH, AND AT NO TIME DID ANYBODY ON THE COUNCIL ASK WHAT THE RATES WOULD BE, AND YOU PASSED AN ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS THE WASTE HAULERS TO PRETTY MUCH CHARGE ANYTHING THEY WANT.
[00:05:01]
READ A LOT OF THE INFORMATION THAT WENT OUT AND I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN YOU OFFER A SERVICE FOR SIX MONTHS OUTTA THE YEAR, IT'S NOT $10 A MONTH, IT'S $20 A MONTH FOR THAT SERVICE.AND I'M KIND OF CURIOUS, HAD THEY TALKED ABOUT RATES AT THAT MEETING, HOW MANY PEOPLE ON THIS, THIS BOARD WOULD HAVE APPROVED A 20% INCREASE IN THE RATES OR A HUNDRED PERCENT INCREASE IN THE RATES? WOULD ANYBODY HERE HAVE APPROVED A 1000% INCREASE IN THE RATES? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MOST OF THE HAULERS PASSED OUT TO US.
I PERSONALLY HAVE WASTE MANAGEMENT AND THAT IS THE MINIMUM INCREASE FOR ME.
I FIGURED THAT I, ON AVERAGE, PUT OUT ABOUT SIX CONTAINERS, SIX GARBAGE CANS A WEEK.
THAT'S GONNA COST ME $480 NEXT YEAR AS A MINIMUM.
THAT'S A 4000% INCREASE OVER WHAT I WAS PAYING THE YEAR BEFORE.
UM, I HAVE CHECKED NO OTHER HAULERS ARE SERVICING MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THE IMPRESSION THAT I CAN JUST GO ANYWHERE AND HAVE SOMEBODY GET MY YARD WASTE DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THE ORDINANCE CAN BE CHANGED.
I KIND OF CAME HERE TONIGHT TO SEE WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES ARE AND TO SEE WHAT OTHER, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS HAVE TO, TO BRING UP.
PLEASE DON'T JUST TAKE, YOU KNOW, THE WORD OF THE PAID CITY MANAGERS.
YOU'RE HERE TO, TO SAFEGUARD US AND IN THIS CASE FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
SO I'LL GIVE YOU BACK THE REST OF MY TIME.
I'M DISAPPOINTED TOO, AND I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT.
ALL THESE THINGS I GOT, I AIN'T GOT NO GARBAGE CAN TO PUT 'EM, I MEAN, NO BAGS TO PUT 'EM ON.
NOBODY TOLD ME THAT WE WEREN'T GONNA BE USING NO MORE.
I, I I, I GOT A BAG OF GARBAGE ABOUT EVERY THREE MONTHS.
I LIVE BY MYSELF AND I DON'T HAVE NO GARBAGE.
AND I MEAN, NOBODY, I CALL THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE.
NOBODY KNOW WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THESE.
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH 'EM? I USE, WHEN I GET A BAG OF GARBAGE, I PUT MY TAG ON AND PUT IT ON THE CURB AND THEY PICK IT UP.
LAST TWO TIME I PUT ON, NOBODY PICKED IT UP, BUT SOMEBODY BROUGHT A GREAT BIG OLD GARBAGE CAN AND SET IT IN MY DRIVEWAY.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO GO.
I MEAN, I DON'T NEED A GARBAGE CAN BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE NO GARBAGE.
I DON'T COOK AND SOMEBODY DON'T COOK IT FOR ME.
I I, I GOT A BILL IN THE MAIL FOR 80, 80, 80 $1 AND I AIN'T FOR WHAT? THEY AIN'T BEEN PICKING UP MY GARBAGE AND I AIN'T HAVE NO GARBAGE SERVICE.
SO I JUST TOLD, I'M JUST, I'M DISAPPOINTED.
AND A LOT OF SENIOR CITIZENS LIKE ME DON'T HAVE GARBAGE.
I MEAN, THEY, I'M 81 YEARS OLD AND I DON'T COOK AND I DON'T EAT VERY MUCH.
SO SOMEBODY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I, I, I BOUGHT, UH, A HUNDRED AND SOME A HUNDRED.
I THINK IT WAS 300 AND SOMETHING.
I, I'VE HAD THESE HERE OVER A YEAR.
'CAUSE I DON'T, I JUST, LIKE I SAID, MAYBE ONCE EVERY THREE MONTHS I GOT A BAG OF GARBAGE TO PUT OUT, YOU KNOW? SO I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T, I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M BEING TREATED RIGHT, LIKE THE REST OF THESE SENIOR CITIZENS IN HERE.
THAT'S WHEN YOU GOT A FULL CROWD.
MY NAME'S WILLIAM MOHAN AND I LIVE IN SOUTH SHORES.
UH, I PAY, I OPTED FOR THE EXTRA YARD WASTE.
MY PROBLEM IS IT SITS THERE TWO WEEKS BEFORE THEY GET IT.
I CALLED 'EM TO PICK IT UP AND THEY'VE DONE THIS TWICE.
I'VE STILL, I'VE STILL GOT IT SITTING ON MY DRIVEWAY, SO I NEED TO SCHEDULE TO PICK IT UP.
I HAVE CONDITIONS AND I DON'T USUALLY COME OUT INTO THIS KIND OF ARENA WITH PEOPLE.
SO, UM, COULD YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME, SIR? I'M A LITTLE BIT AFRAID FROM WHAT I'M GONNA SAY, BUT WE NEED, WELL, WE HAVE TO HAVE YOUR NAME.
I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT RETRIBUTION.
THAT'S MY CONCERN ABOUT THE NAME.
UM, OF COURSE $5 FOR BAG IS OUTRAGEOUS, BUT THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM.
THE PROBLEM, IF YOU LOOK AT IT IS WHAT THIS GENTLEMAN JUST SAID.
[00:10:01]
I WAS PAYING $40 PER BILL A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND NOW I'M PAYING 47.I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S 15, BUT WHATEVER IT IS, UH, WM IS, IS MY HAULER.
AND, AND I'M NOT GETTING ANY ADDITIONAL SERVICE.
A COUPLE, COUPLE, UH, MONTHS AGO, I COULD PAY A COUPLE BUCKS, JUST A COUPLE EXTRA BUCKS AND I WOULD YEAR HAVE YEAR ROUND YARD WASTE PICKUP.
NOW THEY'D GO TO THIS CRAZINESS ABOUT THE YARD WASTE, UM, WITH A CITY'S BROCHURE.
YOU'RE G YOU'RE G GUARANTEEING THEM BASICALLY AN ANNUAL INCREASE.
WHY WOULD YOU DO AN ANNUAL INCREASE WHEN YOU DON'T CHECK ON THE QUALITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE SERVICE? YOU HAVE PEOPLE COME OUT AND INSPECT WHETHER A GRASS IS TOO TALL.
OKAY, BUT YOU, NOBODY'S WATCHING THESE HAULERS.
SO ANYWAY, I HAVE HAD JUST LIKE THE GENTLEMAN SAID, I, I'VE HAD, UH, HAD MY, MY, UH, UH, TRASH AND MY YARD WASTE, PARTICULARLY THE YARD WASTE, UH, NOT BE PICKED UP.
AND I CALL IN AND I HAVE TO BE ON THE PHONE FOR AN HOUR.
I FINALLY GET THROUGH TO SOMEBODY AND THEY TELL ME I'M GONNA GET IT PICKED UP.
MY SERVICE IS ON FRIDAY, BUT THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T COME AGAIN UNTIL MONDAY.
AND THEN IF THEY DON'T PICK IT UP ON MONDAY, I'M CALLING IN ON TUESDAY AND THEY WON'T PICK IT UP.
I'VE GONE A WHOLE WEEK BEFORE.
SO ANYWAY, UH, I GUESS, UH, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE, MY NEIGHBORS, THEY PICKED IT UP AND THEY DROPPED IT.
THEY, THIS WAS RECYCLING AND THOSE TWO, FOUR OLD PEOPLE WERE OUT THERE IN THE STREET, IN THE STREET TRYING TO PICK UP THEIR STUFF.
OKAY, SO, BUT LEMME GET TO THE BOTTOM LINE.
MY RECOMMENDATION IS THE CITY SETS UP ITS OWN CITY OPERATED HOTLINE.
NOT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, NOT TO DO ANYTHING, BUT KEEP A RECORD AND HOLD THESE HAULERS ACCOUNTABLE AND YOU CAN SEE WHO'S DOING A GOOD JOB AND WHO'S NOT, BY ALLOWING US TO CALL THE HOTLINE AND TELL, TELL THE HOTLINE WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO ANYWAY, UH, THREE MINUTES ISN'T A LONG TIME.
UM, BUT, UH, AND OH, ALSO, LET ME JUST SAY, IF YOU LET THE HAULERS DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO DO ALLEY SERVICE, YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE.
BECAUSE IF THEY PUT IT ON THE STREET, WE'RE GONNA HAVE ALL THIS TRASH ON THE STREET.
AND IN DECATUR WE DON'T WANT THAT.
AND, UH, SO I KNOW THEY, ANYWAY, I'VE RUN OUTTA TIME, BUT I THINK I'VE MADE MOST OF MY POINTS.
OKAY, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR WOLF.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS PATRICK MCBRIDE, LIFETIME RESIDENT OF DECATUR.
AND, UH, I DECIDED TO STAY IN MY, UH, YARD WORK ATTIRE AS I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE FOR TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
AND I AM A YARD WASTE MANAGEMENT PREMIUM YARD WASTE CUSTOMER.
AND WE DID HAVE OUR FIRST SUCCESSFUL PICKUP VERY EARLY THIS MORNING USING OUR YARD WASTE TOTER SUCCESS.
MY WIFE AND I SPENT TWO OR THREE HOURS THIS AFTERNOON FILLING OUR NEW TOTER BACKUP WITH STICKER BALLS.
SO THERE'S STILL PLENTY MORE SPRING CLEANUP WORK WE NEED TO DO, BUT VERY LITTLE, LITTLE ROOM LEFT IN THE TOTER.
UM, WE LIVE ON ROUGHLY A QUARTER ACRE, QUARTER ACRE LOT WITH, UH, NINE VERY TALL MATURE TREES.
UM, THE NEW PROGRAM WILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR OUR LOT, UH, ESPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WHEN NO YARD WASTE PICKUP IS AVAILABLE.
ONE THING I FEEL THAT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED IN THIS PREMIUM YARD WASTE DISCUSSION IS THE AVAILABLE DATES.
IT IS NOT AN ANNUAL PROGRAM, IT IS A SEASONAL PROGRAM.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN DECEMBER, THERE'S NO YARD WASTE PICKUP AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE PREMIUM OR NOT AFTER DECEMBER 12TH JANUARY.
AGAIN, NO YARD WASTE PICKUP AT ALL FOR ANYONE.
NO YARD WASTE PICKUP FOR ANYONE.
SO MY STORY IS, UH, I CALLED YARD WASTE MANAGEMENT ON FEBRUARY 1ST, AND THIS WAS BEFORE THE SPECIFIC, UH, PICKUP DATES WERE KNOWN BY PROBABLY ANYONE.
UH, AND IT WAS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT AS THESE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID TO REACH ANYONE ON THE PHONE.
UH, BUT I FINALLY TRICKED THE AUTOMATED SYSTEM AND SPOKE WITH CUSTOMER, A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP, AND SHE WAS VERY HELPFUL.
UH, AND I PAID THE $120 FOR WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE A YEAR.
UM, AND THEN I TRIED TO SCHEDULE A PICKUP FOR THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, WHICH IS FEBRUARY 5TH.
[00:15:01]
PROVIDED ME A CONFIRMATION NUMBER.HOWEVER, WHEN THE WORK ORDER REACHED THE DECATUR OFFICE, UH, IT WAS DECLINED.
NO SCHEDULED PICKUPS WERE ALLOWED IN THAT MONTH OF FEBRUARY.
I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL MARCH 4TH TODAY AND THEY DID PICK IT UP.
AS I SAID EARLIER, UH, THE SAME CUSTOMER SERVICE REP REACHED OUT TO ME WITH AN APOLOGY AND A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE DATES WHEN YARD WASTE WILL BE PICKED UP.
UH, I DID CALL THE OTHER TWO WASTE HAULERS, DULAN AND GFL AS ARE LISTED ON THE, UH, CITY'S WEBSITE.
AND NO BETTER SERVICES OR RATES WERE AVAILABLE.
OKAY, IN SUMMARY, THREE THINGS.
UH, IF WE REALLY ARE PAYING FOR 12 MONTHS A PREMIUM YARD WASTE SERVICE, PLEASE HAVE A METHOD FOR HOMEOWNERS TO BE ABLE TO, UH, SCHEDULE A YARD WASTE PICKUP DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.
WIND AND ICE BRING DOWN STICKER BALLS AND BRANCHES YEAR ROUND AND IT'S PROBABLY ONLY ONLY GONNA BE NEEDED A FEW TIMES PER WINTER SEASON.
MR. ANDRE, YOU DO HAVE THREE MORE MINUTES WHEN WE GET TO THIS ON THE AGENDA ITEM.
SO CAN YOU CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION? I HAD LIKE 30 SECONDS AND I'LL BE DONE.
I WE HAVE TO STICK TO THIS OR IT OPENS US UP TO, TO MUCH MORE.
BUT YOU CAN BE FIRST UP WHEN WE ASK FOR CITIZEN'S COMMENT WHEN WE GET TO THE AGENDA ITEM.
I LIVE IN THE WEST END ON THE CORNER OF RIVERVIEW IN TAYLOR.
UH, TALK TO ANY OF THE CITY BUS DRIVERS.
THEY KNOW THAT I'M THE CRAZY OLD MAN THAT'S OUT THERE THAT'S DOING THE CITY'S JOB ALL THE TIME BECAUSE I CLEAN THE STREETS 'CAUSE THEY DON'T DO IT.
I HAVEN'T SEEN A STREET SWEEPER IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD SINCE LAST FALL SOMETIME.
I'M SURE THEY SWEEP THE STREETS DOWNTOWN EVERY NIGHT.
SITUATION IS, UM, AT THE SAME SITUATION WE TALKED ABOUT HERE.
I HEARD, WELL YOU GOTTA PAY $10 A MONTH TO GET 12 MONTH PICKUP.
SO I SENT MY WASTE HAULER A CHECK FOR 30 BUCKS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY MISSED IT.
WELL, WE'LL COME AGAIN, WE'LL SEND A TRUCK FOR IT.
MY SON AND OUR SON-IN-LAW AND DAUGHTER AND FAMILY, INCLUDING HIS PARENTS, MY DAUGHTER'S MOTHER ALL GOT FED UP WITH ILLINOIS IN 2022.
THEY ALL HAD RESPONSIBLE JOBS OR RETIRED PEOPLE.
SO THEY MOVED TO ALL OF THEM, MOVED TO DO ALABAMA.
AND WHILE I WAS DOWN THERE, MY SON-IN-LAW SAID, WAS TELLING ME ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE COME UP WITH IT.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE GARBAGE SERVICE.
AND I SAID, WELL, TELL ME ABOUT IT.
WELL, THEY COME AND THEY PICK UP THE GARBAGE ONCE A WEEK, GIVE YOU A TOTE.
THEY COME AND PICK UP RECYCLES ONCE A WEEK.
THEY ALSO GIVE YOU A, UH, TOTE FOR RECYCLE MATERIAL.
SO THERE'S, BUT BESIDES THAT, THEY ALSO COME EVERY WEEK AND PICK UP ANYTHING YOU PUT ON THE CURB.
IF IT'S A REFRIGERATOR, THEY PICK IT UP.
IF IT'S A COUCH, THEY PICK IT UP.
IF IT'S YARD WASTE, THEY PICK IT UP.
YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THEY PAY A MONTH FOR GARBAGE SERVICE? 14 BUCKS.
THIS IS A CASE WHERE USUALLY I SAY PRIVATE ENTERPRISE DOES A BETTER JOB THAN THE PUBLIC DOWN THERE.
THE CITY OF DOTHAN DOES THE GARBAGE SERVICE.
THEY OWN THE LANDFILL STUFF THAT GOES OUT ON A CURB THAT'S COULD BE USED.
GUESS WHAT LITTLE COTTAGE INDUSTRY IS DEVELOPED WHERE PEOPLE COME AROUND THE NIGHT BEFORE AND LOAD STUFF ON THE TRAILER.
SO GARBAGE HAULERS DON'T HAVE TO HAUL THAT MUCH AWAY, BUT WE, SOMETHING'S WAY OUTTA WHACK KIND OF GOES WITH THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
I DO HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AND DID, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND THIS LETTER AT ALL.
IF ANYBODY COULD EXPLAIN IT TO ME LATER BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE ABOUT THE ONE 20 I I WAS VERY HAPPY HOW THEY DID IT BEFORE.
I UNDERSTAND ABOUT PEOPLE NEEDING RAISES AND STUFF, BUT I PAID 43, I PAID 2350 PER MONTH, WHICH CAME TO 40.
'CAUSE I PAID $2 MORE TO HAVE YEAR ROUND WASTE.
I I HAVE TO PAY PEOPLE TO DO MY STUFF.
TAKE MY YARD BASE 'CAUSE I'M HAVE MEDICAL ISSUES.
SO HAPPY WITH THE BAG BUYING THE BAGS.
I WAS HAPPY WITH THE 2350 PLUS A $2 MORE A MONTH.
[00:20:01]
NOW IT'S 45, SO I WAS PROBABLY PAYING 49 A MONTH, UH, EVERY TWO MONTHS.SO THEN WE HAD A STRAIGHT YEAR ROUND.
NO CONFUSION, NO CONFUSION AT ALL.
THEY TOOK MY $2 A MONTH OFF AND WE HAVE ONE 20 PREMIUM AND THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE YEAR ROUND.
AND THEN SOMETHING ABOUT A CART AND ANYTHING EXTRA $5 EACH.
I'M LIKE, I ASKED BEARS, I CALLED WASTE MANAGEMENT ON BEAR.
ZERO ROAD SECRETARY COULDN'T E SHE TOLD ME THREE TIMES AND FOUR TIMES.
I SAID, YOU AND I COULD HAVE WROTE THIS BETTER BECAUSE I CAN'T UNDERSTAND ARE THE ADDING 10, THE 2120 DIVIDED BY 12 IS $10 A MONTH.
SO THAT MEANS ON TOP OF MY 2350 PER MONTH, I ADD $10 A MONTH IF I WANT THE YARD WASTE PREMIUM.
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ISSUE OF HOW IT'S WORDED AND WE'RE NOT UNDERSTANDING.
SO I'M SAYING THAT WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE, IT'S CONFUSION AND WHAT'S AN EXTRA CART THAT WE DON'T NEED? I ALREADY HAVE TWO THAT I HAVE, I PAY PEOPLE TO TAKE OUT FOR ME.
WHY DO WE HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE EXTRA CART? IT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE WHAT IT'S FOR.
WHEN, WHEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE MORE BAGS AND IT'S NOT, IT'S CONFUSING AND I'M HAPPY WITH WHAT I WAS PAYING, BUT IF YOU ADD $10 A MONTH, WELL, OKAY, I GO WITH THE FLOW, BUT THEN YOU LIMIT AND WE STILL DON'T GOT YEAR ROUND AND WE HAVE LIMBS THAT COME DOWN IN THE WINTERTIME LIKE, UH, UH, THE OTHER MAN SAID.
AND THEN, SO I WOULD JUST LIKE SOMEBODY TO EXPLAIN THAT TO ME SOMETIME TONIGHT SO THAT I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING SO I CAN PAY MY, I MIGHT WANT THE PREMIUM, BUT HOW AM I GONNA DO ANYTHING? I TOLD THE LADY NOT TO DO ANYTHING TILL I KNOW WHAT I'M, WHAT THIS, THIS HERE IS NOT WRITTEN WELL.
UH, AND THEN MY OTHER THING REAL QUICK WAS RURAL.
$74 EVERY, EVERY, UM, AND I LOVED HAVING THE FIVE FREE PICKUPS.
I THINK WE WERE BLESSED WITH THAT.
BUT MY MOTHER LIVES IN THE C UH, UH, OVER BY BEVILLE ROAD.
YEAH, AND I'M SORRY, BUT YOU'RE OUT OF TIME MA'AM.
WE SHOULD TREAT EVERYBODY EQUALLY.
DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK BEFORE COUNSEL TONIGHT? PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
UH, YOU GUYS ALL KNOW THIS IS A CRAPPY AGREEMENT.
AND WHAT YOU DID IS YOU SIGNED A BLANK CHECK.
AND YOU SHOULD KNOW BY NOW THAT YOU SHOULDN'T BE SIGNING BLANK CHECKS.
YOU NEED TO BE SUPERVISING WHAT YOUR STAFF IS DOING.
DON'T, DON'T LET THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN.
THIS IMPACTS EVERY CITIZEN IN THE CITY.
I HAD PREMIUM SERVICE, I WAS HAPPY WITH IT.
I'M NOT VERY HAPPY WITH THIS, WITH THIS CRAP.
YOU NEED TO GO BACK, FIND A WAY TO BREAK OUTTA THIS CONTRACT AND RENEGOTIATE IT.
UM, SO ONE THING THAT'S NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AT ALL THIS EVENING, AS YOU ALL KNOW, BECAUSE I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE, I TAKE CARE OF ABOUT NINE DIFFERENT SENIOR CITIZENS THAT ARE FRIENDS OF MY FAMILY THAT I HELP.
SO FOUR OF THEM HAVE CALLED NEEDING THE SMALLER TOE, WHICH LISA, YOU ACKNOWLEDGED THAT AT THE LAST MEETING FOR YOURSELF.
AND SO WHEN I CALLED ABOUT FOR ONE OF THE LADIES, THE GENTLEMAN ON THE PHONE SAID, WELL, DON'T YOU HELP HER.
CAN'T YOU TAKE IT DOWN TO WHICH I ANSWERED, NO, I'M NOT PAID TO DO THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, CUSTOMER SERVICE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED.
ANOTHER QUESTION WAS WHY THE CITY MAILED? UM, EVEN IF IT WAS ABOUT GRADE 19 CENTS A LETTER PLUS AN ENVELOPE PLUS CITY STAFF TIME.
WHY THE CITY DID THAT? AGAIN, LISA NOTED THAT THAT WAS PART OF THE AGREEMENT WAS THAT THE HAULERS WERE GOING TO DO THAT.
BUT A MAIN CONCERN NOW OF MANY OF THESE PEOPLE, INCLUDING MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IN THE ALLEY STILL HAS BRANCHES FROM THE STORMS FROM BEFORE.
WHAT HAPPENS IS THERE AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM IF WE HAVE STORMS COME THROUGH IN
[00:25:01]
THE OFF SEASON THAT THEY SEEM TO THINK WE DON'T NEED ANY YARD BASE PICK UP.SO I'M GONNA SUGGEST WHEN YOU'RE RENEGOTIATING OR REOPENING THIS WITH THE HAULERS, YOU TRY TO FIND THAT OUT.
THANK YOU MS. ON MY NAME'S SHERRY EVANS.
UM, I AM ON DISABILITY AND EVERY TIME YOU GUYS RAISE SOMETHING, MY PAY GOES DOWN.
WE ONLY GOT 3% RAISE THIS YEAR ON OUR SOCIAL SECURITY.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING HERE, BUT YOU GUYS ARE ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL.
AND I DON'T FEEL THAT IT'S RIGHT.
EVERY TIME WE TURN AROUND, WE'RE GETTING A RAISE.
WE'RE GETTING A RAISE ON WATER, WE'RE GETTING A RAISE ON GARBAGE LIGHTS AND GAS, UH, TAXES.
I MEAN, HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO LIVE? YOU GUYS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT HERE TO TAKE YOU GUYS, BUT YOU GUYS ARE HERE TO TAKE US AND IT'S NOT RIGHT.
AND WITH THIS YARD WASTE, WHY ARE WE PAYING YEAR ROUND WHEN WE'RE NOT GETTING IT? I'M SORRY, BUT I'VE GOT PLENTY OF GARBAGE CANS WITH WASTE IN IT BECAUSE I'VE GOT TREES IN MY YARD AND WHENEVER IT COMES TIME TO SET 'EM OUT, I'M SETTING THEM OUT.
I PAID FOR GARBAGE, I PAID FOR YARD WASTE.
I'VE LIVED IN THIS FINE CITY FOR 55 YEARS.
AND WHAT I HAVE NOT HEARD IS WE HAVE TWO OR THREE STORMS A YEAR, GOES THROUGH AND KNOCKS DOWN SMALL LIMBS, MEDIUM LIMBS, SOMETIMES BIG LIMBS.
WE CUT 'EM UP, WE BUNDLE 'EM UP AND WE PUT 'EM OUT.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH THOSE? AND WHAT IS THAT GONNA COST? IS THAT GONNA BE AN A LA CARTE CHARGE LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE? I HAVE NOT READ OR SEEN.
MAYBE IT, MAYBE I'VE MISSED IT, BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD WHAT IS GONNA HAPPEN TO THE BUNDLES OF LIMBS.
AND WE, WE SPONSOR EVERY YEAR IN THIS CITY.
BEAUTIFIED DECATUR IS THIS GONNA BEAUTIFY DECATUR WITH ALL THESE GRASS AND LEAVES AND LIMBS PILED UP EVERYWHERE.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO? IT IS GONNA BLOW ALL OVER OUR CITY.
I KNOW YOU'LL COME UP WITH SOMETHING, BUT PLEASE DON'T BURDEN US WITH A LARGE, LARGE COST.
THERE'S GOTTA BE A BETTER WAY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ABIR MOTIAN.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD THREW TRASH BOTTLES THICKER.
YOU NAME IT, IT'S ON THE GROUND, IT'S ON THE SEWER LINES, IT'S IN THE DRAINS OF THE SEWERS.
THAT'S THEIR WRITING FOR YOU FOR WHAT THE PRICES ARE.
I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT.
NUMBER TWO, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW FOR BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, THE CEO KIM A KECK TURNS OUT TO BE SHE'S RELATED TO E JEAN CARROLL.
ALRIGHT? THEY'RE RELATED TO KILO KIM JI WITH THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, AND THEN THEY'RE RELATED TO THE ILLINOIS, UH, JUDGE STACEY PORTER.
AND THEN THEY'RE RELATED TO ILLINOIS COALITION AGAINST SEXUAL VIOLENCE NAMED CARRIE WARD.
WHERE'S THE JUSTICE? IT'S ALL IN THE FAMILY.
I PRAY TO GOD AND I LOVE EVERYBODY.
BUT REALLY HERE IN DECATUR, ILLINOIS, WE GOT WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE COME HERE BECAUSE WE WANNA BE HEARD.
WE, WE COME HERE BECAUSE WE WANNA BE COMFORTED.
WE COME HERE BECAUSE WE WANT NEGOTIATION.
WE COME HERE BECAUSE WE WANT SOMETHING WORKED OUT.
THE POLICE DON'T CARE ABOUT US.
THEY DON'T CARE IF THEY HURT PEOPLE.
THE MEDIA DON'T CARE ABOUT US.
[00:30:01]
AROUND WHEN IS IT WHERE PEOPLE WILL JUST GO BACK LOVING ONE ANOTHER AND WORK HARD TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY.ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THEMSELVES AND CARE ABOUT THE PROPERTIES AND CARE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITIES.
YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S VERY HARD FOR US TO COME HERE.
IT'S VERY HARD FOR US TO TELL YOU THIS BECAUSE WE DO CARE ABOUT YOU.
WE JUST HOPE THAT YOU CARE ABOUT US.
AND SO WE ASK YOU ALL TO PLEASE TAKE, LISTEN TO US AND TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION HOW WE FEEL AND OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR NEEDS.
WE NEED THIS COMMUNITY TO STAY AS ONE.
WE DON'T NEED PEOPLE FIGHTING.
WE DON'T NEED POLICE PICKING ON US.
WE DON'T NEED POLICE DEGRADING US OR PUTTING US DOWN JUST BECAUSE THEY WANNA FEEL LIKE THEY, WE GOTTA PRAY TO THEIR GOD.
NO, WE, I BELIEVE IN GOD AND I DON'T BELIEVE IN STATUES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
I BELIEVE IN THE REAL GOD AND I HOPE YOU DO TOO.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A LOVELY EVENING.
DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNSEL TONIGHT? YEAH.
I'VE BEEN CONTRIBUTING TO THE RECYCLING PROGRAM SINCE IT STARTED WITH THE RED BINS.
WHEN IT WAS CHANGED TO THE BLUE BINS WITH WHEELS, IT WAS A BIG IMPROVEMENT.
YOU ALLOWED MORE ITEMS. PLUS WE DIDN'T HAVE TO SEPARATE THEM.
THEY SAID I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUTTA MY WATER BILL AND WE DON'T GET ANY PAYBACK FOR IT.
LIKE THE OLD DAYS WHEN WE GET SOME MONEY BACK, RETURNING, UH, UM, EMPTY POP BOTTLES, BEER MILK, BOTTLES TO BE WASHED AND REUSED, I SAID I'M USING IT 'CAUSE I HATE WASTE.
AND IF THEY CAN TURN THE TAN ALUMINUM CANS, GLASS CONTAINERS, PLASTIC AND NEWSPAPER AND CARDBOARD INTO SOMETHING ELSE, THEN I'M FOR IT.
SOME YEARS AGO I ASKED THE CITY FOR A NEW LIST OF WHAT'S OKAY TO PUT IN THE RECYCLING BINS.
I GOT A LIST THAT HAD MORE ITEMS THAT WASN'T PRINTED ON THE BLUE BINS LIDS.
I ALSO FOUND THAT I HAD LESS TO PUT IN MY 13 GALLON GARBAGE SACKS.
A NEIGHBOR TOLD ME ABOUT A REDUCED SERVICE FOR PEOPLE LIKE HER AND I THAT DON'T GENERATE MUCH GARBAGE CALLED BAG SERVICE.
SAID FOR ABOUT $30, UH, I COULD GET 12 STICKERS AND CAN GET A ACK OF GARBAGE OUT ONCE A MONTH AND PUT A STICKER AND LABEL ON IT AND THEY'LL TAKE IT.
SO ABOUT 2018 OR 19, I OPTED FOR IT.
$30 A YEAR WAS BETTER THAN $15 A MONTH.
WHEN I USED A STICKER ON A BAG, I DATED IT ON THE ENVELOPE.
WHAT I FOUND OUT THOUGH, WAS THAT I DIDN'T, UH, USE A STICKER AFTER ONE, TWO OR THREE MONTHS.
I FOUND I AVERAGED FIVE TO SEVEN MONTHS BEFORE FILLING A 13 GALLON GARBAGE BAG.
THAT'S ONLY TWO STICKERS A YEAR.
NOW FAST FORWARD TO FEBRUARY, 2024.
THAT'S WENT ALONG WITH A JANUARY 10 ARTICLE IN THE HAROLD REVIEW, I FOUND I'M EXPECTED TO PAY ABOUT $24 A MONTH WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT AND CITY OF DECATUR'S NEW ARRANGEMENT WITH NO OPTION FOR A LOWER COST OPTION FOR RESIDENTS LIKE ME WHO CREATE LITTLE ACTUAL GARBAGE.
ALSO, I RECENTLY SPOKE WITH A CLINTON, ILLINOIS RESIDENT THAT SAID SHE HAD A CHOICE OF TWO PROVIDERS WITH ONE COSTING LISTS.
UH, AND EVEN OFFERING A SENIOR DISCOUNT, SHE CHOSE THAT ONE.
I CALLED THE OTHER FOUR PROVIDERS ON A RECENT BROCHURE I RECEIVED AND THE ONLY, AND I ONLY WANTED TO ASK IF THEY OFFERED BAG SERVICE AND OR SENIOR DISCOUNT AND I COULD NOT GET AN ANSWER FROM ANY OF THEM.
LASTLY, GARBAGE SERVICE, UH, PROVIDERS PICK UP NEAR YOUR HOME.
UH, BUT I CAN, BUT IF I CAN CHOOSE SOMEONE ELSE, I'D BE MORE THAN WILLING TO DRIVE MY TWO 13 GALLON SACKS OF ACTUAL GARBAGE PER YEAR TO THEIR LANDFILL MYSELF.
UH, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A CITY AND A SERVICE PROVIDER FORCED, UH, SERVICE ON THE, I'M SORRY SIR, YOU'RE OUT OF TIME ON THIS ISSUE.
ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WISH TO SPEAK TONIGHT? COME ON DOWN, MA'AM.
HI, I'M CATHERINE JENAE AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET GARBAGE SERVICE.
THEY SENT ME A BILL, I PAID IT AND EVERYTHING, BUT THEY'VE ONLY PICKED UP MY GARBAGE ONCE THIS YEAR.
AND THEY TOLD ME THAT, UH, I NEEDED A NEW GARBAGE CONTAINER AND THE GIRL WAS SUPPOSED TO DELIVER IT, BUT SHE STILL HAS NOT DELIVERED MY GARBAGE CONTAINER.
[00:35:01]
I CALL, THEY TELL ME, WELL, SHE HAD AN ACCIDENT.SHE'S NOT ABLE, SHE'S ON LIGHT DETAIL.
WELL, WHY CAN'T SOMEBODY ELSE BRING IT? YOU KNOW, I NEED MY GARBAGE PICKED UP AND IF THEY'RE GONNA TAKE MY MONEY, THEY SHOULD GIVE ME THE SERVICE.
HE REALLY, REALLY HAS WORKED WITH THEM AND ME TRYING TO GET THEM TO COME AND GET MY GARBAGE AND EVERYTHING.
THEY KEEP TELLING HIM A CERTAIN DATE AND THEN HE CONTACTS ME.
HE SAID, WELL, THEY'RE GONNA BE HERE ON THIS DATE AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T SHOWED UP AND I'M GETTING GARBAGE PILED UP, YOU KNOW, SO I APPRECIATE ANYBODY COULD HELP.
DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK BEFORE COUNSEL TONIGHT? THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY, THEN WE WILL MOVE ON.
UH, FIRST DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL HAVE ANY COMMENTS? PAT, JUST A COUPLE THINGS.
UM, I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL FRIENDS THAT HAVE GONE WITH THE STICKERS FOR BAGS.
ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS CONTACT THEIR, UH, HOLLERER AND THEY WILL GIVE YOU CREDIT ON YOUR BILL.
SO THAT WOULD SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.
'CAUSE SEVERAL OF 'EM HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT AND GOT CREDITED.
AND, UH, SO, UH, I'M NOT STICKING UP FOR ANYBODY, BUT IT'S JUST, IT'S WORKING FOR THESE OTHER PEOPLE, CITIZENS.
'CAUSE THEY, THEY, YOU KNOW, JUST HAVE LESS GARBAGE.
AND, UH, SINCE THAT PROGRAM HAS STOPPED AND THEY HAVE ALL THESE EXTRA COUPONS, UH, YOU'RE JUST CONTACT YOUR HAULER AND THEY WILL GIVE YOU CREDIT.
AND IF THEY DON'T, YOU CAN CALL NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES HERE AT THE CITY.
AND, UH, THEY KEEP A LIST OF, OF, UH, WHAT'S GOING ON IN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE, ANY OF THE GARBAGE HAULERS.
HOLLERS, COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY.
I JUST WANNA SAY TO THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE, UM, THAT I HOPE THAT YOU STAY.
THE DISCUSSION AMONG COUNCIL ON GARBAGE IS THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.
UM, AND THE ONLY THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO BEFORE WE GET THERE, DO APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
SO IF YOU CAN STAY, WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
ANYBODY ELSE COMMENTING BEFORE WE MOVE ON? OKAY,
[IV. Approval of Minutes]
WE WILL MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTE APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 12TH, 2024.APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 20, 20, 24.
ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS? NONE.
[1. Discussion Item - Premium Yard Waste Services]
BUSINESS? UH, WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE DISCUSSION ITEM, WHICH MEANS THAT WE ARE NOT TAKING ANY ACTION TONIGHT, BUT WE, UM, HAVE ALL HEARD FROM OUR CITIZENS AND PEOPLE ARE PRETTY UPSET.UM, AFTER CHANGES IN, UM, OUR GARBAGE ORDINANCE, TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION WILL FOCUS ON PREMIUM YARD WASTE SERVICES.
I'M NOT SAYING EVERYTHING ELSE IS PERFECT, BUT FOR TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION, WE'RE LIMITING IT TO THE PREMIUM SERVICE WITH YARD WASTE.
AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY WE WON'T BE REVISITING MORE ON THIS ISSUE.
UM, BUT I'LL OPEN IT UP TO THE MANAGER TO BEGIN.
UH, IF YOU'VE GOT SOME REMARKS.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF REMARKS.
UH, AND THEN I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, UM, AFTER MY INITIAL REMARKS, WHAT REQUESTS I MADE OF THE TWO PRIMARY HAULERS, GFL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT, UM, AND SOME OF THEIR RESPONSES TO THAT.
UM, AND THEN, UM, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR THEM.
THEY'RE BOTH HERE THIS EVENING, BOTH WASTE MANAGEMENT AND, UH, GFL.
UH, AND I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE USEFUL TO SORT OF KICK OFF THE DISCUSSION.
UM, AND, UH, JUST TO EMPHASIZE, MAYOR, WHICH YOU'VE ALREADY MENTIONED THAT THIS IS NOT A, THERE'S NO FORMAL ACTION TONIGHT, BUT CLEARLY, UH, OR HOPEFULLY THE DISCUSSION THAT HAPPENS THIS EVENING WILL GIVE A GREATER CLARITY FOR HOW WE WOULD, HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
THE FIRST THING I WANNA MENTION IS THAT, UH, WE ARE NOT BOUND BY ANY CONTRACT.
UH, A LOT OF CITIES DO EXECUTE CONTRACTS, UH, BETWEEN THE, THE, THE CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE HAULERS THAT ARE FOR A FIXED TERM, AND WHICH, UH, WITH THE POWER OF CONTRACT CONTROL THE TERMS AND, AND THE CONDITIONS.
THE WAY THAT THE GARBAGE HAULING HAS BEEN REGULATED BY THE CITY FOR MANY YEARS IS BY ORDINANCE.
SO THE, SO THERE IS NO CONTRACT TERM.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN CHANGE THE ORDINANCE.
IT HAS CREATED A SOMEWHAT ANOMALOUS SITUATION, UH, COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES BECAUSE SINCE THERE IS AN ORDINANCE AND THERE'S NOT A CONTRACT, WE SORT OF HAVE TO HAVE TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE THE BEST DEAL WE CAN FOR CITIZENS IN THE LEAD UP TO PERIODIC CHANGES TO THE ORDINANCE.
THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THOSE, OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS WAS TO TRY TO DRIVE THE BASE RATE DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,
[00:40:01]
UM, AND, UH, AND, AND TO ELIMINATE SOME OF THE MISCELLANEOUS FEES THAT, THAT THERE HAD BEEN.AND AS IS RELATED TO THE WASTE, EXCUSE ME, TO THE PREMIUM YARD WASTE.
WHAT ONE OF THE WAYS WE DID THAT WAS TO DECOUPLE PREMIUM YARD WASTE SERVICES FROM BASIC SERVICES AND THEN GIVE CITIZENS.
IT HASN'T WORKED OUT EXACTLY THIS WAY.
I FREELY ADMIT, UH, UH, MORE FLEXIBILITY AND CONTROL OVER WHAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DO IN, IN THE LONG RUN.
ONE OF THE OTHER OBSERVATIONS I WANNA MAKE BESIDES THAT IT'S AN ORDINANCE, NOT A CONTRACT, IS THAT BASED ON THE COMPLAINTS AND THE CALLS WE'VE HAD TO CITY OFFICES, THERE IS STILL A LOT OF CONFUSION.
YOU, WE HEARD THAT IN THE REMARKS THIS EVENING.
THERE'S STILL A LOT OF CONFUSION.
AND THE CONFUSION ISN'T JUST AROUND THE YARD WASTE, IT'S ALSO AROUND, UH, WHAT THEIR BILLS SHOULD BE.
I APPARENTLY, THE, THE HAULERS ARE STILL OPERATING FROM OLD DATA ABOUT WHAT RATE PAYERS HAD, WHETHER THEY HAD AN EXTRA GARBAGE CAN OR WHETHER THEY HAD SOME OTHER PREMIUM SERVICE BECAUSE, UM, AND WE HAVE DEALT WITH THAT BY HAVING LOTS OF INFORMATION OUT ON OUR WEBSITE AND OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND, AND DISTRIBUTING THIS INFORMATION IN, IN THE TRIFOLD THAT WENT, WENT TO EVERYBODY.
SO THAT IF IT, IF WHATEVER THE HAULER IS, IS BILLING YOU FOR DOESN'T MATCH WHAT THE CITY'S INFORMATION, THEN YOU SHOULD CALL THEM AND SET IT.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY CALLS I'VE HAD FROM PEOPLE WHO SAY, WELL THAT'S, THAT 2350 IS NOT WHAT I'M BEING BILLED.
I'M BEING BILLED A HIGHER RATE.
THEN YOU NEED TO CALL YOUR HAULER.
AND, AND, AND I'M, AND I'M AFRAID THAT THERE'S CITIZENS OUT THERE WHO JUST PAY THEIR BILLS WITHOUT LOOKING AT 'EM SOMETIMES AND THEY'RE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND, AND THAT, AND SO THE, THE, THE HAULERS HAVE TO GET THEIR BILLING RECORDS CORRECT.
THE OTHER PROBLEM THAT I WOULD OBSERVE BASED ON THE CALLS WE'VE RECEIVED IS THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FINALLY GET TO A HUMAN BEING AT THE OTHER END.
AND, AND, UH, SOMETIMES OUR CITIZENS, UH, WITH PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE COMPLAINTS ARE FRUSTRATED BY HOW LONG IT TAKES TO WAIT TO GET TO THAT HUMAN BEING.
SO, UM, I'VE ASKED OUR, OUR HAULERS TO TRY TO ADDRESS THOSE PROBLEMS, THE SPECIFIC THINGS, AND THEY, AND THEY, SOME OF THEM CAME UP, MAYBE ALL OF THEM CAME UP AT YOUR LAST MEETING WHEN YOU REQUESTED THAT WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION HEARING, UH, THAT WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ITEM, UM, REGARD TO PREMIUM WASTE.
UM, THE FIRST ONE HAS ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED AND THAT IS THAT, UH, BAG STICKERS, ACTUALLY YOU DIDN'T MENTION THIS, BUT IT'S COME UP THAT THE BAG STICKERS BOTH GFL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT HAVE SAID IF YOU HAVE THOSE BAG STICKERS, THE YES, YES, THE BAG SERVICE HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED BECAUSE, BECAUSE THE REAL, THE PRIMARY COST OF PROVIDING GARBAGE AND RECYCLING IS HAVING TRUCKS AND MANPOWER GO UP AND DOWN EVERY SINGLE STREET IN THE CITY, DECATUR, EVERY WEEK, REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH IS, IS PICKED UP.
BUT PEOPLE HAVE PAID FOR THOSE STICKERS AND THEY SHOULDN'T LOSE THEIR VALUE BECAUSE WE'VE MADE THESE CHANGES.
SO BOTH GFL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT HAVE SAID THAT THEY WILL TAKE THEM AT THEIR FACE VALUE FULL 100% CREDIT TOWARDS, UM, TOWARDS THEIR ACCOUNT FOR REGULAR GARBAGE AND RECYCLING GOING FORWARD.
THE SECOND THING, UH, THAT WAS COMPLAINED ABOUT WAS THAT PREMIUM YARD WASTE BILLING IS, UH, IS AT LEAST, ESPECIALLY BY WASTE MANAGEMENT, I THINK THERE'S MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE PART OF GFL TO ALLOW FOR THIS.
THEY ONLY WANNA DO IT ANNUAL BILLING RATHER THAN SAY, QUARTERLY BILLING.
UM, AND UH, SO, UH, I I, I WAS CONCERNED THAT THAT KIND OF BUILDING WHILE ONEROUS, BESIDES BEING ONEROUS ON OUR CUSTOMERS, ALSO MAKES IT HARDER FOR CUSTOMERS TO BAIL OUT, UM, SAY QUARTERLY WHEN THERE'S ANOTHER SERVICE THAT COMES UP AS I BELIEVE THERE'S GOING TO BE, THERE'S, I MEAN, THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL RESPOND, BUT IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE STUCK IN A YEAR SERVICE, THEN YOU, THEN YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
SO THERE, THERE NEEDS TO BE A CHANGE THERE.
I'VE REQUESTED THAT, UM, THE, UM, THE EXTRA BAG SERVICE, THE EXCUSE TO BE THE EXTRA BAG CHARGE, WHICH IS PROPOSED TO BE ASSESSED, UM, EXCEPT DURING THE SIX WEEKS IN THE SPRING AND THE FALL, UM, WAS, UH, WAS OVER THE TOP.
UM, G L'S RESPONSE TO THAT WAS TO SAY, WE AGREE AND WE'LL PROVIDE, IN ADDITION TO THE NINE TO SIX, UH, GALLON CON, UH, YARD WASTE CONTAINER, WE'LL PROVIDE, UH, NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE FOR 10 BAGS.
UM, WASTE MANAGEMENT IS STILL EVALUATING IT, BUT I ASKED THEM TO, TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
AND, UH, AND THE THIRD, UH, FRONT OF THE LAST REQUEST WAS THAT THEY PROVIDE OTHER OPTIONS SIMPLY THAN THE ALL OR NOTHING.
OR BY ALL I MEAN THE, THE ANNUAL YARD WASTE SERVICE, WHATEVER IT IS, UH, FOR A WHOLE YEAR OR BASIC SERVICE WHERE THE ONLY YARD WASTE YOU GET IS DURING THE SIX WEEKS IN THE SPRING AND THE SIX WEEKS IN THE FALL.
THAT THERE ARE, THAT THERE, IT'S REASONABLE TO SUGGEST THAT THERE SHOULD BE ALTERNATIVES BETWE IN BETWEEN THOSE SOMEWHERE.
UM, AND, UH, EVEN IF WE HAVE TO GIVE, UM, 24, 48, 72 UH, HOURS NOTICE, IT'S, IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE THAT IF WE, THAT, IF WASTE MANAGEMENT OR GFL SENDS A TRUCK OUT, UH, JUST FOR ONE, ONE PICKUP, THAT'S, THAT'S AN EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION.
UH, BUT IF THEY HAVE SEVERAL DAYS, UH, NOTICE ON IT AND THEY CAN COMBINE IT WITH LOTS OF OTHERS AND, AND PLAN THEIR ROUTE, THEN THAT PER STOP COST GOES WAY DOWN.
WE THINK THAT'S AN OPTION THAT THEY SHOULD CONSIDER.
UM, SO FAR, NEITHER HAULER HAS SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO THAT.
THEY HAVEN'T SAID ABSOLUTELY NO EITHER.
UM, SO, UM, I DON'T, I'M, I'M NOT TRYING TO BEAT UP ON THE HAULERS.
[00:45:01]
I'M, I'M REALLY NOT.I'M TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION AND I THINK THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION.
SO I'D LIKE TO ASK EACH OF THE HAULERS TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THOSE THREE SPECIFIC THINGS THAT WE HAD ASKED THEM TO CONSIDER AHEAD OF TIME.
SO IT'S NOT A, I MEAN, IT'S NOT A COLD QUESTION TO THEM THIS EVENING BECAUSE I'VE BEEN, UH, TALKING TO THEM AND CORRESPONDING WITH THEM.
AND I THINK IT MIGHT BE USEFUL AS WELL SINCE WE HEARD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS THIS EVENING AS TO, UM, WHY THE, WHY THE 10 MONTH SERVICE AS AS OPPOSED TO 12.
I MEAN, I THINK I UNDER, I THINK I KNOW WHAT IT IS, AND THAT IS THAT THEY THINK THAT, THAT IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY THERE'S VERY LITTLE YARD WASTE GENERATED EXCEPT WHEN WE GET REAL ABERRATIONS AND WEATHER LIKE WE DID FOR FEBRUARY, UH, THIS YEAR.
UM, UM, BUT, UH, TO GIVE SOME INSIGHT AS AS TO THEIR THINKING ABOUT THAT.
SO I REALLY WANT, I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF DAVE OR IF, UH, ERIC, WHICHEVER YOU'D LIKE TO GO FIRST, I'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON THOSE, ON THOSE THREE OR FOUR THINGS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE WERE REALLY TRYING TO FIND RELIEF WITHIN THE STRUCTURE OF, OF THE DECOUPLED YARD SERVICE.
SO OUR PROGRAM IS, IS TO OFFER, UH, A, A YARD WASTE PROGRAM OR A PREMIUM PROGRAM FROM UH, UM, MARCH TILL THROUGH DECEMBER OF EACH YEAR FOR $120.
SO THAT'S $12 A MONTH WHILE WE'RE, WE'RE DOING IT, BUT WE'RE GONNA CHARGE YOU $10 A MONTH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND IN A SLIGHT CORRECTION, WE'RE NOT GONNA OFFER A, A CART LIKE WASTE MANAGEMENT IS FOR OUR YARD WASTE SERVICE.
WE'RE JUST GONNA LET YOU PUT OUT 10 BAGS PER WEEK PER PICKUP.
AND, AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE OUR PROGRAM IS AT RIGHT NOW.
WE DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING ON-CALL YARD WASTE SERVICE.
SO IF SOMEBODY CALLS AND JUST WANTS US TO COME PICK UP ONE TIME BETWEEN YOUR TWO SIX WEEK BOOKENDS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SELLING OUR ROUTES AND OUR TRUCKS BEING OUT ON THE ROAD, RUNNING THE STREETS, AND EVERYBODY THAT'S ON THAT ROUTE IS HELPING PAY FOR THAT TRUCK AND THAT PERSON AND, AND THE DISPOSAL THAT COMES IN THERE.
AND SO IF, IF AT SOME POINT WE'RE FORCED TO, TO OFFER A ONE TIME PICKUP IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY, WE'RE GONNA MAKE THAT PRICE HIGH SO THAT THE PERSON CONSIDERS GOING WITH THE YEAR-ROUND SERVICE AND BEING A PERMANENT PART OF THE ROUTE AS OPPOSED TO US JUST DRIVING TO THEIR, OR, OR IN OUR MIND, ADDING THEM TO THE ROUTE FOR ONE ONE WEEK AND, AND COLLECTING ONE FEE.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE AN EXTRA BAG PICKUP, WE'RE JUST GONNA KEEP IT AT 10.
IF YOU HAVE 11 BAGS, WE'RE GONNA PICK UP 10 AND LEAVE THE NEXT ONE FOR NEXT WEEK.
QUESTIONS FOR ERIC BEFORE WASTE MANAGEMENT GETS A CHANCE AT THE PODIUM COUNCIL.
OH, AND WE ALSO AGREED TO GO TO THE OTHER SMALLER HAULERS TERRITORIES.
IF PEOPLE CALL, ORIGINALLY WE WERE JUST GONNA SERVICE OUR CUSTOMERS FOR THE YARD WASTE PROGRAM, BUT, BUT WE'VE AGREED TO GO TO THE TWO MERLE AND THE OTHER, UH, FRANCHISE AREA AS WELL.
COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY, MAY I ASK HOW YOU ARRIVED AT THE TIN BAGS? ONLY ON A WEEKLY BASIS? UH, SIMPLY THE, THE VOLUME THAT WE SEE, UM, KIND OF ON A REGULAR BASIS PER WEEK.
THERE ARE SPIKES AT, AT LEAF SEASON, BUT THE LEAVES DO COME DOWN OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, SO TO KEEP UP WITH THEM, WE THINK 10 BAGS A WEEK FOR THE GREAT MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, UM, MAKES SENSE.
IT DOESN'T WORK FOR EVERYBODY, BUT IT'S HARD TO, YOU KNOW, TAILOR PROGRAMS LIKE THIS FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD.
I, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL, BUT UM, YOU'RE THERE AND THERE'S MORE THAN 10 BAGS.
UM, AND SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS ANYTHING BEYOND 10 IS GONNA BE LEFT OUT THE CURB, UM, MORE THAN LIKELY IS GONNA FALL OVER AND CAUSE ADDITIONAL WASTE IN OUR STREETS.
AND SO I, I'M, I JUST, UM, AM NOT SURE THAT I FULLY AGREE WITH OR HAVE ARRIVED AT THE SAME CONCLUSION AS YOU HAVE REGARDING TIN BAGS.
WHEN THIS WAS, UM, PRESENTED TO COUNCIL ALSO, UM, IT WAS THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS IN AN AREA COULD NEGOTIATE WITH THEIR OWN HAULER OR FOR ANOTHER HAULER FROM ACROSS TOWN.
AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THAT WOULDN'T BE THE MOST EFFICIENT THING, BUT I FOUND IT INTERESTING BECAUSE ISN'T EVERY SINGLE HAULER CHARGING THE EXACT SAME FEE, WHICH SEEMS KIND OF, I DON'T KNOW, INTERESTING.
BUT I HOW DID YOU ARRA ARRIVE AT YOUR FEE? UH, WE'RE USING, UH, THE SAME MODEL THAT WE'RE USING IN WASHINGTON, ILLINOIS FOR A YARD WASTE PROGRAM.
IT'S THE SAME THING WHERE WE DO THE BILLING.
WE PROVIDE TRASH AND RECYCLING, AND THEN IF PEOPLE WANT A PREMIUM YARD WASTE PROGRAM, THEY PAY EXTRA, WE ENROLL THEM FOR A YEAR AT A TIME AND ADD THAT FEE ON A MONTHLY BASIS OR QUARTERLY BASIS TO THEIR BILL.
AND SO THE BILL DOESN'T GO UP AND DOWN WHEN WE DON'T PICK UP IN DECEMBER, JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.
AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE PAYING THE SAME THING YEAR ROUND.
MR. KHL, I THINK, UH, PROBABLY THE ONE THING THAT FRUSTRATES ME IS THAT EVERYBODY CALLS INTO THE HAULERS ABOUT PROBLEMS AND THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE
[00:50:01]
GETTING THEIR ANSWERS OR IT TAKES 'EM TOO LONG TO GET THROUGH.I I CAME FROM THE SERVICE INDUSTRY AND, UH, MY GOAL IS ALWAYS TO TRY TO GET BACK TO EVERYBODY BY THE END OF THE DAY.
AND, UM, SO I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S YOUR COMPANY OR THE OTHER COMPANY THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT 'CAUSE NOBODY WAS REALLY SPECIFIC, BUT I, I'D LIKE YOU TO ADDRESS HOW YOU HANDLE COMPLAINTS AND HOW YOU HANDLE CALLS AND, AND AND, AND WHAT'S YOUR SYSTEM ON THAT.
SO YEAH, SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE HAVE A, A POOL OF CUSTOMER, UH, CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE, 15 OF THEM IN OUR PEORIA CORPORATE OFFICE.
WE HAVE ANOTHER POOL OF FOUR PEOPLE IN CLINTON.
AND CLINTON IS WHERE OUR OPERATION IS THAT RUNS DECATUR OR PICKS UP DECATUR AND BRINGS IT TO OUR LANDFILL THERE.
AND SO WHEN PEOPLE CALL THERE, IF IT'S NOT PICKED UP IN THE CLINTON OFFICE, IT WILL ROLL TO OUR PEORIA OFFICE.
IF YOU SIT AND LISTEN TO THE PROMPTS, YOU CAN LEAVE A NUMBER FOR US TO CALL YOU BACK.
AND YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THOSE PROMPTS AND FOLLOW THOSE PROMPTS TO GET THAT TO HAPPEN.
FOLKS WANT, I KNOW PEOPLE TO PICK UP THE PHONE EVERY DAY OR PICK UP THE PHONE WHEN THEY CALL AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY TO STAFF FOR, UH, FOR THOSE SPIKES WHEN IT'S YARD WAY SEASON OR THERE'S A HOT ISSUE LIKE THIS AND THE PHONE'S RINGING OFF THE HOOK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE STAFFED FOR A, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A STANDARD LEVEL.
AND YES, THE GOAL IS TO RETURN ALL THOSE CALLS BEFORE OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE GO HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY.
I CAN'T STAND HERE AND TELL YOU IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME, BUT THAT'S THE GOAL OF THE CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER RUNNING THIS POOL OF PEOPLE.
MR. COOPER OBVIOUS WE GOT A PROBLEM.
IT'S SOME, WE CREATE IT, I'M SORRY TO SAY A AND SOME, I THINK THE HAULERS, EXCUSE ME, THE HAULERS ARE CREATED AND ALL OF US AS CITIZENS ARE GETTING BURNED BY THE MESS TO PUT IT BLANKLY.
IF WE GO BACK TO BEFORE WE STARTED THIS NEW SYSTEM, OVERALL THINGS ARE WORKING PRETTY GOOD WITH YARD WASTE.
I NEED TO KNOW FROM BOTH COMPANIES, WHY NOT TURN THE CLOCK BACK? WHAT WOULD IT BE TO GO BACK TO THE OLD SYSTEM AND WHAT FEE WOULD THAT BE OR NEED TO BE? BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THERE'S GONNA BE NO SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM UNLESS WE JUST GO BACK TO WHERE IT WAS WORKING PRETTY GOOD.
YES, BUT OVERALL IT WAS WORKING, IT WAS A LOT CHEAPER AND PEOPLE GOT SERVICE FOR THEIR YARD WASTE.
SO WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO GO BACK? WHAT WOULD YOU NEED IF WE GO BACK AND, AND START FROM WHERE WE WERE AT? BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THE SERVICES IN THE YARD WASTE IS GONNA GET ANY BETTER AFTER THE NIGHT OR, OR NEXT WEEK BECAUSE I THINK WE GOT A MESS THAT WE CREATED TOGETHER, THE HAULERS AND LET'S COUNSEL, WE CREATED A MESS AND WE NEED TO CLEAN UP OUR MESS AND START OVER.
AND I ALWAYS SAY, IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.
SOMETHING WASN'T REALLY BROKE THAT BAD.
WE TRIED TO FIX IT AND WE, WE TORE IT UP.
SO I NEED TO HEAR FROM THE HAULERS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUS THE COMMUNICATION IS NOT GONNA GET ANY BETTER BECAUSE WE ASKED THAT, WE SAID WE WANT 24 HOUR PICKUP SOMEBODY TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY CALL.
YOU BOTH SAID YOU WOULD DO THAT.
WE SAT HERE AND YOU SAID YOU WOULD DO THAT BEFORE WE VOTED YES ON THIS COUNTRY, THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE THAT AIN'T HAPPENED.
IT, IT'S BASICALLY GOTTEN WORSE BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING MORE CALLS AND IT'S GOTTEN WORSE.
THE, THE COMMUNICATION HAS GOTTEN NO BETTER.
IT'S GOTTEN WORSE BECAUSE OF YOUR VOLUME OF CALLS NOW THAT YOU'RE GETTING AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING MORE UPSET EVERY WEEK.
IT'S OBVIOUS YOU TWO ARE NOT ON THE SAME, COMPANIES ARE NOT ON THE SAME WAYLEN AS FAR AS WHAT YOU'RE WILLING TO DO TO CORRECT THE SITUATION.
SO OBVIOUSLY IT'S, THAT'S NOT GONNA GET ANY BETTER BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT EVEN, YOU WON'T BECOME, WON'T COME TOGETHER IF ONE COMPANY'S WILLING TO PICK UP 10 BAGS FREE.
I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE UNLIMITED LIKE IT WAS.
BUT IF YOU'RE WILLING TO PICK UP 10, I COULD JUST SIT THERE AND NOT SAY YOU ARE WILLING TO PICK UP 10.
UH, I DON'T KNOW WHY THE, THE SMALL HAULERS DON'T, WON'T GET INVOLVED AND TRY TO HELP OUT.
TO ME IT WOULD'VE BEEN MORE BUSINESS FOR THEM, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME REASON OUT THERE WHY THEY WON'T STEP UP AND GET MORE BUSINESS THAT THEY COULD PICK UP.
UH, I CAN'T SAY WHY I, I GOT MY GUT LEVEL FEELINGS WHY, BUT I DON'T HAVE PROOF.
SO WE NEED TO START BACK OVER TO WHERE WE WERE IN MY OPINION, AND, AND FIX THE LITTLE BIT THAT WAS MESSED UP THERE AND
[00:55:01]
GET OUR SERVICE BACK TO WHEN IT WAS REALLY SERVICE.WE'VE GOT SOME YARD WASTE AND BUILT IN WITH THE BASIC SERVICE THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR.
I PAY FOR, WE PAY, WE PAY GARBAGE TOO.
SO IF I'M PAYING FOR SOME WEEKS, 12 WEEKS I THINK IT IS IN THE BASIC SERVICE, THEN WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD I BE GETTING CHARGED IN THE PREMIUM SERVICE FOR WEEKS THAT I'M ALREADY GETTING, I'M PAYING FOR IN THE BASIC SERVICE.
UM, IT, IT'S CLEAR YOU NEED TO STOP THE RIP OFF AND LET'S GO BACK AND DO THINGS.
DAVE? I'M SORRY, I WAS ABOUT TO CALL ON DR. HORN.
UM, JUST A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS FOR, UM, UH, THE GFL REPRESENTATIVE.
SO ARE YOU ASKING FOR $120 PER YEAR, UM, UPFRONT AS A ONE TIME FEE OR IS IT PER MONTH? NO, $10 PER MONTH.
UM, AND THEN JUST A TECHNICAL POINT, BASIC SERVICE ALREADY INCLUDES ABOUT THREE MONTHS OF UNLIMITED YARD WASTE.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT PICKING IT UP ON, IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, IT'S ABOUT $120 A YEAR FOR SEVEN MONTHS, WHICH COMES OUT TO ABOUT $17, UH, PER MONTH, WHICH IS ABOUT EQUIVALENT TO THE PICKUP FOR GARBAGE AND FOR RECYCLING.
UM, THE SECOND QUESTION I HAD IS YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO GO INTO SMALLER HAULERS TERRITORIES FOR, UM, PREMIUM YARD WASTE, BUT NOT THE, UM, WASTE MANAGEMENT.
UH, COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHY THAT IS? OUR OUR COMPANY'S WILLING TO DO THAT.
I THINK THE POINT, I THINK THE QUESTION WAS WASTE MANAGEMENT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND WAS, WAS HESITANT TO DO THAT.
SO YOU WILL GO INTO WASTE MANAGEMENT TERRITORY? NO, SIR.
NO, MY, MY QUESTION IS, OH, I'M SORRY.
DID YOU SAY, DID I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO GO INTO SMALLER HAULERS, UH, TERRITORIES BUT NOT WASTE MANAGEMENT TERRITORY TO OFFER YOUR YES.
BECAUSE OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THE SMALLER HAULERS AREN'T OFFERING A PREMIUM YARD WASTE PROGRAM.
WELL, I DO KNOW SOME SMALLER HAULERS ARE.
AND SO, UM, ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS THAT, UH, IF MY UNDERSTANDING IS CORRECT, GFL HAS A MARKET CAP OF 13 BILLION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT HAS A MARKET CAP OF 83 BILLION AND WE'RE WILLING TO GO INTO SMALL BUSINESSES AND, AND GET THEIR BUSINESS FOR PREMIUM YARD WASTE, BUT NOT, UM, ALL, UH, ASSIST WITH ALL RESIDENTS.
MR. CULP, UH, MR. JOHN RIKER SPOKE EARLIER FROM UH, ASSISTANCE COMMENTS AND HE BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT BEING STORM CLEANUP AND LIMBS AND SO FORTH.
AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 10 BAGS PER WEEK.
NOW INSIDE THOSE BAGS, COULD THEY HAVE TREE BRANCHES? TREE LIMBS? IS THERE A DIAMETER OR LENGTH ISSUE THAT WE'RE ALL AWARE OF? THEY COULD COUNT ONE OF THOSE BAGS AS A BUNDLE INSTEAD.
AND THAT BUNDLE WOULD BE LIMITED TO BRANCHES THAT ARE LESS THAN FOUR INCHES IN DIAMETER.
WE CAN'T PUT IN OUR TRUCK BUNDLED LESS THAN FOUR FEET IN LENGTH AND LESS, LESS THAN 50 POUNDS PER BUNDLE.
WE'VE JUST BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE 10 BAGS UP UNTIL THIS MOMENT.
BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL NEED SOME DEFINITIONS CLEARED UP AS FAR AS WHAT YOU'RE WANTING THEM TO PROVIDE AT THE CURB, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR CITIZENS HERE THAT WANNA KEEP THEIR YARD CLEAN BUT WANNA COMPLY.
BUT CUSTOMER SERVICE, WE'VE HEARD THAT ALL NIGHT AND I KNOW WE'RE FOCUSED ON YARD WASTE.
HOWEVER, IF I'VE GOT 11 BAGS OR 10 BAGS IN ONE BUNDLE OF TWIGS AND THEY COUNT 'EM OUT AND THEY GET BACK IN THEIR TRUCK AND LEAVE THE 11TH BEHIND, THAT'S JUST POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE.
LET'S SAY IT'S A BAG AND IT'S GONNA GET RAINED ON AND WHEN YOU PICK IT UP, IT'S ALL GONNA GO FALL THROUGH.
ARE THEY GONNA PICK IT ALL UP? I DOUBT NOT.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME CUSTOMER SERVICE COME BACK AND LIKE, UH, MR. COOPER HAD MENTIONED EARLIER, IF WE HAVE A BETTER PROGRAM, LET'S GO BACK TO IT.
IF THIS IS NOT WORKING, THEY'RE NOT SEEING THEIR MONEY'S WORTH.
NOT FROM YOUR CALL CENTER, NOT FROM YOUR PICKUPS.
AND I JUST, I'M GONNA ASK BOTH YOU AND WASTE MANAGEMENT TO REEVALUATE BIGGER'S.
AND IN THIS CASE, IT'S BEEN PROVEN THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
[01:00:01]
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENT? NO.WANNA BRING UP WASTE MANAGEMENT? YOU WANT ME TO GO OVER THE QUESTIONS AGAIN, DAVE? PARDON? YOU WANT ME TO GO OVER THE QUESTIONS AGAIN? NO, THAT'S FINE.
MY NAME IS DAVE SHAW, THE MUNICIPAL MARKETING MANAGER FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN, EVEN THIS, NONE OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.
UM, A COUPLE OF THE QUESTIONS HERE.
I, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO REITERATE WHAT THE, THE BASIC PROGRAM INCLUDES.
THE BASIC PROGRAM STILL INCLUDES SIX WEEKS IN THE SPRING, SIX WEEKS IN THE SUMMER, WHERE WHATEVER IS PUT OUT IN YARD WASTE IS COLLECTED.
AND TO SAY THAT WE WERE GONNA DO THAT ON A CONTINUING BASIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR A DOLLAR A MONTH, WHICH WAS THE OLD SYSTEM, THE DOLLAR OF THE MONTH, A DOLLAR A MONTH FOR THAT SERVICE, DEFIES LOGIC.
THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE COULD PUT OUT A TRUCK TO COVER THE NUMBER OF MILES THAT, THAT ARE TO COVER HERE IN DECATUR.
EVEN THOUGH WE'RE ONLY 80% OF THAT PRO OF THAT MARKET, THERE'S 736 CURB MILES OF STREETS IN DECATUR.
SO JUST TO DRIVE THAT IS ABOUT A 50 HOUR ENDEAVOR AT A 15 MILE AN HOUR.
AN AVERAGE TO SAY WE'RE GONNA DO THAT FOR A, FOR A DOLLAR A MONTH.
MOST CITIES HAVE A PREMIUM YARD WASTE SERVICE INVOLVED.
OTHER CITIES HAVE A YARD WASTE SERVICE, WHICH IS UNIVERSAL THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.
SEASON GENERALLY RUNS EITHER APRIL OR MAY OR APRIL OR MARCH THROUGH THE END OF, MIDDLE OF DECEMBER OR THE END OF DECEMBER.
AND IT CAN BE, WE CAN CERTAINLY FORECAST WHAT THAT WOULD COST FOR EVERYBODY TO HAVE UNLIMITED SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITHOUT A HITCH, WITHOUT COUNTING BAGS, WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING ELSE.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO PRODUCE THAT FOR YOU.
WE'LL HAVE IT IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS JUST FOR COMPARATIVE DATA.
WE'RE NOT SAYING HERE'S THE WAY YOU WANT TO GO.
YOU OUGHT TO HAVE THAT NUMBER IN FRONT OF YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
IN TERMS OF THE PREMIUM SERVICE.
THE PREMIUM SERVICE GOT GREAT, GREAT USAGE WITHIN THE CITY BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A VALUE AT A HIGHER RATE.
IT'S GOING, IT IS SEEING LESS AND LESS USAGE.
OUR SIGNUPS ARE REMARKABLY LOW.
UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE TO OFFER IT EVEN, BUT WE'RE OFFERING IT AND WE WILL BE HAPPY TO BECAUSE WE SAID WE WOULD.
BUT IN TERMS OF TO GET EVERYBODY BACK TO WHERE THEY WANT TO BE, WHICH IS WITH UNIVERSAL COVERAGE AND UNLIMITED SERVICE, WE CAN PROVIDE THAT.
WE WILL NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE COST OF DOING THAT.
IT'LL BE LESS THAN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PREMIUM PROGRAM THAT COVERS A MINOR PORTION OF YOUR POPULATION.
AND THE FACT THAT THERE'S THIS MUCH BACK BACKSPLASH ABOUT THOSE PRICES IS CERTAINLY TO BE EXPECTED.
IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE TO DO THAT 'CAUSE WE'RE DEALING WITH VERY SMALL POPULATION OF POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS AND A LOT OF EQUIPMENT AND A LOT OF MANPOWER TO DO THAT.
THE PROBLEM IS, THE BASIS WE'RE STARTING FROM A DOLLAR A MONTH WAS NEVER SUSTAINABLE, WILL NOT BE SUSTAINABLE.
AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO TELL YOU WHAT IT SHOULD BE IF EVERYBODY HAD THAT IN TERMS OF WHERE TO GO FOR A, A, A SOLUTION.
WE CAN TINKER AROUND WITH LITTLE INCREMENTAL CHANGES TO WHAT WE'RE DOING, MAYBE EXPAND IT BY A WEEK OR TWO OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT'S ALL INCREMENTAL AND SMALL.
WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOMETHING UNIVERSAL THAT'S GONNA FIT THE DEMAND OF THE CITY AND IT'LL FIT THE DEMAND OF EVERYONE WHO'S LOOKING FOR UNIVERSAL YARD WASTE SERVICE.
AND I WILL CAUTION YOU THAT NOT EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR UNIVERSAL YARD WAY SERVICE.
SO TO DRIVE THAT PRICE DOWN BY MAKING IT UNIVERSALLY ACROSS THE CITY, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HERE TONIGHT WILL WANT TO BE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA BE PAYING FOR A SERVICE THAT THEY DON'T UTILIZE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE THE SERVICE HAS GOTTEN SO EXPENSIVE.
AND ADMITTEDLY, IT HAS, WE'LL SEE THE BENEFIT OF IT.
BUT THAT'S UP TO THIS CONSOLE TO SEE WHERE THAT BALANCE IS.
BUT WE'LL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION IN TERMS OF THE YARD WASTE SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER.
IT IS JUST NOT FEASIBLE TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A VERY EXPENSIVE DRIVER OR TWO AND A $400,000 TRUCK AND ALL THE EXPENSE THAT GOES WITH THAT AND RUN THE 470 LANE MILES OF THE CITY TO SAY WE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING OUT THERE.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE IT OUT THERE AS AN OPTION, BUT IT'S NOT EFFICIENT.
AND IF IT'S NOT EFFICIENT, IT DRIVES THE BASE PRICE UP FOR EVERYBODY.
SO I'M, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.
I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO HEAR THE COMMENTS THAT I'VE HEARD AND FROM THE COUNCILMAN IN TERMS OF, CAN WE GO BACK TO WHERE THE WAY IT WAS, WE CAN GO BACK, BUT THE WAY IT WAS WAS
[01:05:01]
NOT A VIABLE MODEL, BUT WE CAN GO BACK TO UNIVERSALIZED SERVICE AND I CAN GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION ON THAT.SO WHAT HAPPENS WITH, UM, WE HAD AT LEAST ONE SPEAKER TALK ABOUT, WELL THEN I WILL JUST PUT MY YARD CLIPPINGS IN WITH MY TRASH.
I MEAN, YOU CAN'T REALLY POLICE THE TRASH BECAUSE, WELL, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT THERE? BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT GONNA PAY FOR IT.
THEY'RE JUST GONNA PUT IT IN WITH THEIR BIG GIANT TOTE THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY GARBAGE IN IT.
UH, YOUR APPREHENSION IS CORRECT.
AND WE CAN'T ACTUALLY LOOK IN THERE AND SEE, BUT WE CAN, UH, THE NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE ON ALL OF OUR TRUCKS, SINCE WE'RE GOING TO AUTOMATED UNITS, WHICH PICK IT UP AND THEN E EMPTY IT INTO THE, INTO THE TRUCK ON RATHER HIGH ANGLES.
SO THAT'S WHY WE CAN'T BE THROWING BAGS THERE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
WE'RE NOT ONLY TAKING A PICTURE OF WHAT IT IS WHEN WE SHOW UP, WE'RE TAKING A PICTURE OF WHAT IT IS WHEN IT'S BEING EMPTIED INTO THAT HOPPER.
SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT GO IN THERE, NOT ONLY WILL WE KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT WE'LL KNOW WHERE THAT WAS GENERATED AND HAVE THAT TO RETURN THAT TO.
AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS? YOU GO BACK AND YOU'RE THE TRASH POLICE.
I MEAN, ARE YOU CALL THIS WHAT, WHAT IS WHAT HAPPENS? YEAH.
WHAT WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE IS OUR ABILITY TO COMPLY WITH STATE REGULATION.
AND AS THE YARD WASTE WAS BANNED EFFECTIVE IN 2012, WE CANNOT HAVE YARD, WE CAN'T BE TAKING IT IN OUR OWN TRUCKS TO OUR OWN LANDFILL AND HAVE IT ACCEPTED IF IT'S NOTICEABLY CONTAMINATED WITH THE YARD WASTE.
SO WE'VE GOTTA BE, WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT CAPABILITY.
AND, AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I'M ASKING WHAT HAPPENS.
LISA'S GONNA FILL UP HER TRASH CAN WITH A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, GRASS CLIPPINGS AND WHATEVER.
AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO HER IF SHE'S VIOLATING? BECAUSE YOU'RE UNDER, YOU'RE FOLLOWING THE RULES, YOU CAN'T GO DUMP IT IN THE LANDFILL.
SO WHAT HAPPENS THEN? ALTHOUGH MS. GREGORY WOULD NOT DO THIS.
IF SHE DID, IF SHE DID, WE THE, AT THE FIRST INSTANCE, SHE WOULD GET A LETTER STATING THAT WE HAD NOTICED THAT THE, THESE FOLLOWING ITEMS WHICH WERE, WHICH ARE NOT PERMISSIBLE UNDER THE PROGRAM, WERE UNDER STATE REGULATIONS.
WERE PRESENT IN THE CANS THAT WE EMPTIED FOR YOU TO THIS TIME WE'RE ISSUING YOU TO THIS NOTICE AS AN EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH STATING THAT WE CANNOT BE CLICK PICK THIS UP IN THE FUTURE.
SO THERE'S A, A SYSTEM OF THE FIRST TIME YOU'RE GONNA NOTICE THAT WE CAN'T BE BREAKING THAT UP THE SECOND TIME, WE WILL STOP THE GAP OPERATION TO SAY WE WILL SET THE REST OF THAT CAN BACK ON THE GROUND.
AND THE THIRD TIME WE'LL INSPECT IT BEFORE WE EMPTY IT.
QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL OR COMMENTS, MS. GREGORY? WELL, FIRST I WOULDN'T PUT MY GRASS CLIPPINGS IN MY GARBAGE.
I MIGHT THINK ABOUT IT, BUT I WOULDN'T DO IT.
UM, I JUST HAVE SOME GENERAL COMMENTS, SO I'M WILLING TO WAIT IF OTHER OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR DAVE.
ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS? CHUCK, I I WOULD JUST LIKE FOR YOU TO GO THROUGH YOUR CALL CENTER AND, AND TELL ME HOW IT OPERATES BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE, YOU KNOW, GETTING THEIR CALLS BACK AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
OUR CALL CENTER IS OPERATED IN MOSTLY IN LOMBARD, ILLINOIS, WHERE WE HAVE THE LARGEST GROUP OF FOLKS FOR THE GENERAL RESIDENTIAL USE WITHIN THE, OUR FOUR STATE AREA.
OUR LARGEST CONCENTRATION IS THERE, IT ROLLS AUTOMATICALLY TO OTHER CALL CENTERS WITH WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.
WE WORK OFF WHAT'S CALLED OUR KNOWLEDGE BASE, WHICH IS AN INDIVIDUALIZED SHEET DESCRIBING THE SERVICES THAT YOU HAVE HERE IN DECATUR AS OPPOSED TO THE SERVICES THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE IN CHAMPAIGN OR GALESBURG.
THEY WOULD ASK YOUR ADDRESS, THEY WOULD CHECK TO THE, TO THAT KNOWLEDGE BASE FOR DECATUR AND THEY WOULD HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS ALLOWABLE, WHAT'S NOT ALLOWABLE, AND ANY SUBSEQUENT CHARGES RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.
IS IT FOOLPROOF? NO, BUT IT'S PRETTY GOOD.
WE ARE DRIVING THAT SYSTEM TOWARD A DIGITAL FORMAT.
SO YOU WILL CALL IN AND BE ABLE, AND RIGHT NOW YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE, THE PROMPTS TO GET TO AN INDIVIDUAL.
THE DIGITAL FORMAT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON PHONES, ON, ON TABLETS OR ANY OTHER WAY YOU WANT TO CONTACT US DIGITALLY.
AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S DESIGNED TO DO.
THE PROBLEM IS, MOST OF OUR CALLS FOR A PROBLEM ARE FELLOWS LIKE ME WHO HAVE CROSSED THAT BRIDGE TO SENIOR CITIZENSHIP AND WANT TO TALK TO SOMEBODY THAT'S GETTING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT ACROSS THE BOARD.
WE HAVE THAT CAPABILITY WITHIN THE, THE PROMPTS.
BUT IF YOU'RE CALLING ME ABOUT A PROBLEM THAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED WITH YOUR, YOUR SOLID WASTE SERVICE OR YOUR RECYCLING OR YOUR YARD WASTE, THERE'S ALREADY A PROBLEM.
YOU'RE ALREADY SLIGHTLY UPSET.
WE DON'T HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO SAY, WELL, I'M GONNA WAIT THROUGH SEVEN, SEVEN PROMPTS TO SEE IF I CAN GET TO A HUMAN BEING.
WE'RE GONNA ASSUME THIS IS A WASTE OF TIME AND WE'RE GONNA HANG UP.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE PUTTING A LOT OF EFFORT INTO OUR DIGITAL PLATFORM AND TRYING TO, TO TAILOR THAT EVERY DAY.
[01:10:01]
A, A CALL LIST OR A CALL TREE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO THE CITY FOR THE CITY'S USE IN TERMS OF SOMEBODY YOU KNOW SAYS, YOU KNOW, I'M ON FIRE WITH THIS AND I NEED ACTION RIGHT NOW.WE WILL HAVE PROVIDED TO THE CITY MANAGER AND TO THE CITY STAFF FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE LIKE ME, TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER, TO THE ROUTE MANAGERS, TO THE OPERATIONS SUPPORT PEOPLE.
THAT'LL BE STRICTLY INTERNALIZED INFORMATION.
AND WE'LL HAVE THAT AVAILABLE TO YOU.
SO SHOULD IT GET TO YOU RATHER THAN US.
AND I REALIZE FULL WELL THAT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN, THAT EITHER OF US WOULD PREFER WILL WE HAVE THE CALL TREE READY TO GET TO YOU? A DIRECT RESPONSE COUNCILMAN CALL THIS CAMERA SYSTEM BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT.
WHAT ANGLES DOES THIS CAMERA SHOW? OH, IT'S, UM, WE SHOW THE, THE FRONT OF THE HOME AND THE DR AND THE PICKUP AREA.
WHEN WE ARRIVE, WE SHOW THE CAN BEING LIFTED.
WE SHOW THE CAN BEING EMPTIED INTO THE HOPPER.
AND RESET BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT.
DO YOU USE THIS WHEN YOU GET CUSTOMER SERVICE COMPLAINTS SUCH AS THE TOTER BEING DROPPED, THE GARBAGE COMING OUT OF THE TRUCK, THE DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS THAT WE RECEIVE DAILY.
DO YOU, DO YOU USE YOUR CAMERAS TO INVESTIGATE THOSE? WHEN WE, WHEN WE ARE NOTIFIED OF A COMPLAINT, THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS IS BY THAT TYPE OF DIGITAL TRACKING, BY IMAGES AND BY DIGITAL TRACKING, UH, WITH GIS SERVICE, WE CAN SHOW EXACTLY WHERE THE TRUCK WENT, WHEN HE WAS THERE AND HOW THAT INCIDENT PLAYED OUT.
AND THEN IF WE KNOW WHEN WE WERE THERE, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF BRINGING UP THOSE IMAGES.
THE COST OF DOING THAT IS ASTRONOMICAL.
ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ABOUT STORING IMAGES AND TALKING ABOUT A BAD JOB IS HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SIT THERE AND GO THROUGH 7,000 IMAGES OF GARBAGE A DAY? HOW THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THIS RESOLVED.
WELL, IF YOU HAVE A DATE AND TIME OF THIS COMPLAINT, I'M SURE YOU COULD PULL IT UP A LOT EASIER.
WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS, 20 MINUTES PRIOR TO OUR MEETING, I GET AN EMAIL FROM A CAREGIVER OF AN 85-YEAR-OLD WOMAN SUFFERED A STROKE, ONE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS.
AND IT TOOK HER THREE ATTEMPTS THIS WEEK TO RECOVER HER TOTE THAT THEY LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF HER DRIVE WHEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.
TAKE 'EM TO THE HOUSE, TRIED YOUR PHONE TREE, NO LUCK, CAREGIVER TRIED YOUR PHONE TREE, NO LUCK.
SO I'LL PERSONALLY GIVE YOU THIS INFORMATION TO DIG UP THIS CAMERA FOOTAGE BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GONNA USE IT ON SOMEBODY THAT DUMPS GRASS IN HER TOTE
I'LL BE HAPPY TO GET THAT INFORMATION THAT WOULD THAT, BUT IT SHOULDN'T TAKE A COUNCIL MEETING TO DO THIS.
AND HERE'S THE IMPORTANT PART FOR, FOR OUR DISCUSSION.
THAT IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS VERY LIKELY CALL PAYING FOR OUR, OUR VALET SERVICE WHERE WE GO UP AND GET IT AND BRING IT BACK.
HARDSHIP SERVICE IS WHAT THE ORDINANCE CALLS IT.
HARDSHIP SERVICE IS WHAT THE ORDINANCE CALLS IT.
AND YEAH, WE, WE ARE OBLIGATED TO DO THAT AND IT'D BE VERY HELPFUL FOR US TO GET TO GIVE ME THAT ADDRESS.
I'LL REVIEW THE TAPES PERSONALLY AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS COLLECTED ON AN INDIVIDUALIZED BASIS.
I'LL GET WITH YOU AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING OUT WHAT HAPPENS.
COUNCILMAN COOPER, I'M GONNA REPEAT MY COMMENTS THAT I JUST MADE EARLIER 'CAUSE I'M SURE YOU HEARD 'EM, BUT IT APPLIED TO BOTH COMPANIES.
UM, I GUESS MY CONCERN IS WHEN, WHEN WE FIRST INITIALLY MET AND WE WERE DISCUSSING THE, UM, THE ORDINANCE AND YOU CA YOU CAME IN AND, AND TALKED WITH US.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THEN WAS ABOUT THE, UH, PHONE CONTACTS AND HAVING SOMEBODY TO TALK TO, UH, UNLESS MY MIND IS TOTALLY, UM, I KNOW I'M GETTING OLDER, BUT I STILL HAVE A PRETTY GOOD MEMORY AND I WRITE A LOT OF THINGS DOWN.
ONE OF THE KEY, ONE OF THE ISSUES WE HAD AT THAT TIME WAS YOUR COMPANY SPECIFICALLY HAVING SOMEBODY TO TALK TO, TO PICK UP A PHONE SO PEOPLE COULD TALK TO.
'CAUSE WE WERE GETTING A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT.
UH, YOU INDICATED TO US THAT THAT WAS GONNA BE CORRECTED AND THERE WAS GONNA BE A PERSON PUT, AND THERE WAS GONNA BE A BODY, A PHONE DEDICATED FOR PEOPLE TO CONTACT AND TALK TO IF THEY CALLED IN ON COMPLAINTS.
YOU, YOU HAVE NOT LIVED UP TO THAT.
YOU HAD NOT DONE WHAT YOU TOLD US YOU WOULD DO.
I TOOK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND NOW IT, IT DID NOT HAPPEN.
YOU HAVE TIME TO GET CAMERAS, LOOK AT CAMERAS, SEND OUT LETTERS, SEND OUT WARNING NOTICES, SEND OUT A LETTER OF YOU'RE GONNA BE SHUT OFF.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO, TO TALK TO A PERSON.
YOU'RE GONNA BE SENDING OUT A WHOLE LOT OF LETTERS AND SOMEBODY'S GONNA HAVE TO BE A PERSON THAT'S GONNA HAVE TO SEND THOSE LETTERS OUT.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF STAMPS, A LOT OF POSTAGE, A LOT OF TREES.
WHEN SIMPLE, PUT SOMEBODY ON STAFF DEDICATED TO DECATUR, ILLINOIS TO ANSWER COMPLAINTS FROM DECATUR, ILLINOIS, NOT LOMBARD, ILLINOIS,
[01:15:01]
NOT THE OTHER CITIES, BUT DECATUR, ILLINOIS.WE PAY YOU MILLIONS OF DOLLARS RIGHT HERE IN DECATUR, ILLINOIS FOR SERVICE.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET ONE PERSON A DAY THAT'S DEDICATED TO ANSWER A CALL IN PERSON FROM OUR CITIZENS RIGHT HERE IN DECATUR, ILLINOIS.
YOU SAID YOU WAS GONNA DO THAT, YOU DID NOT DO IT.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO CON, IF I GOT A PROBLEM WITH A CONTRACT OR IF I GOT PROBLEM WITH SERVICE, I TERMINATE THE SERVICE PERSONALLY IN MY PERSONAL, I, I TERMINATED, HAD NO PROBLEM.
GET SOMEBODY ELSE TO WANNA RESPOND TO MY ISSUES THAT I'M PAYING FOR.
OUR CITIZENS ARE PAYING FOR SERVICE.
THEY'RE PAYING TO TALK TO SOMEBODY IF THEY GOT A PROBLEM.
THE PROBLEMS ONLY GROW WHEN YOU DON'T TALK TO NOBODY.
UH, I DON'T, I BE ON, I I SEE ONLINE SOCIAL MEDIA IS, IS IS CRAZY NOWADAYS.
AND IF YOU GO ON SOCIAL IN THE MEDIA OR IN DECATUR RIGHT NOW AND LOOK AT GARBAGE COMPLAINTS, MM-HMM
THAT IS THE MAJOR THING RIGHT NOW OUT THERE ON THE, ON, ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT STREAMS. IT DON'T NEED TO BE THAT WAY.
WE'RE PAYING FOR A SERVICE, PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR A SERVICE AND THEY NEED TO TALK TO SOMEBODY.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO, IF YOU GOTTA, WHOEVER YOU GOTTA GO TO ABOVE YOU, THE CAO TELL THEM YOU NEED A COMMUNICATIONS LINE DIRECT LINE TO A PERSON TO HAD NO ISSUES IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS.
MY INTENTION IS TO GO BACK AND SAY WE NEED, WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR DEDICATED SERVICE LINE PREFERENCE, PREFERABLY TO BE STAFFED LOCALLY, BUT THAT MIGHT BE TOUGH, BUT STAFFED AT LEAST IN THE AREA AND A DEDICATED LINE STRICTLY FOR THAT.
I WILL ALSO REINFORCE THAT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS REFRESH EVERYTHING ABOUT THE CALL TREE FOR CITY STAFF AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND YOU'LL HAVE THAT BY WEDNESDAY.
AND I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT ADDING A CALL LINE WHERE THEY CAN CALLS CAN GO AND BE CONVERTED TO THE CITY STAFF.
NO, THEY DON'T NEED TO BE HANDLING CALLS FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT NO.
AND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE NOT PAYING OUR CITY STAFF TO HANDLE CALLS ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT CONCERNS.
SO PLEASE GO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
AND I'M SAYING THAT IN ANTICIPATING THAT PEOPLE WILL CALL CITY HALL BECAUSE CALLING CITY HALL IS WHAT YOU KNOW, IS, IS THE THING THAT WE ALL LIKE TO DO.
WHEN I SAY THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE A CALL TREE, IT'S NOT FOR THE CITY, IT'S FOR THE CITY STAFF.
SO WHEN THE CITY STAFF RECEIVES THAT CALL, THAT SHOULD NOT COME HERE, SHOULD COME TO US, THEY CAN EITHER REPORT IT DIRECTLY TO US.
WELL, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THAT NUMBER, YOU KNOW, GENERALLY FOR THE PUBLIC.
BUT ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS BE MADE AWARE OF IT AND WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY ON THAT.
AND I'M ON THAT CALL AS FOR MYSELF, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL.
OH, ONE ISSUE I'M HEARING A LOT.
YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE BOTH THE 96 GALLON AND THE 64.
A LOT OF SENIORS GOT THE, UH, 96 NOW THROUGH MY HAULER I ORDERED A 96.
WELL, RIGHT NOW I CAN HANDLE IT.
UH, BUT MANY PEOPLE ARE GETTING SENIOR, REAL OLDER PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE 96 AND THEY DIDN'T ASK FOR IT.
SO WILL YOU REPLACE THOSE WITH THE 64? YES, WE WILL.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR INVENTORY LEVEL IS RIGHT NOW, BUT WE WILL CERTAINLY GET THAT ADOPTED.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE, NUMBER ONE, THAT THEY'RE IN A CART, YOU KNOW, FOR EVERYONE LIKE ME THAT'S CROSSED THAT SENIOR BRIDGE THAT IS A CONVENIENTLY, ESPECIALLY THE 64, IS A CONVENIENT LEVEL FOR UNSTABLE SENIORS LIKE ME TO UTILIZE THAT.
64 IS A LITTLE HIGHER AND IT CAN GET AHOLD OF YOU.
WE'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF CITIZENS THAT, UH, HAD REQUESTED TO SPEAK, SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE CAN BRING THEM UP AT THIS POINT.
AND WE MAY BE CALLING YOU BACK UP, BUT, UM, PATRICK MCBRIDE, IF YOU'RE STILL HERE, YOU STILL HAD A COUPLE OF, UH, COMMENTS OR, UH, SUGGESTIONS AND YOU GET A WHOLE NEW THREE MINUTES.
SO YOU KNOW, IT'S YOUR LUCKY NIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ME BACK UP.
UH, MOST OF THE ISSUES I WAS GOING TO DISCUSS WERE, UH, ALREADY ADDRESSED, SO I WON'T, I WON'T, UH, REPEAT THOSE.
UM, BUT, UH, REGARDING THE COMMUNICATION OF THE WASTE HAULERS WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC, I MEAN, THIS IS THE 21ST CENTURY.
YOUR WEBSITE'S PRETTY GOOD, BUT IT'S MISSING ONE THING ABOUT SCHEDULING GARBAGE PICKUP.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M GUESSING WE'RE GONNA GO WITH SOME TYPE OF,
[01:20:01]
UH, SCHEDULED PICKUP.UH, EVENTUALLY MAYBE WE WILL, MAYBE WE WON'T, BUT THAT'S MY GUESS.
SO WHY CAN'T YOU JUST HAVE A CALENDAR? SAY, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, IT WOULD BE A CALENDAR ON THE WEBSITE THAT WOULD SAY, OKAY, I WANT IN, SAY IT'S IN JANUARY, I WANT MY YARD WASTE PICKED UP AND I KNOW YOU DON'T WANNA DO THIS EVERY DAY.
BUT WHAT IF WE DID JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, EVERY FIRST MONDAY AND EVERY THIRD MONDAY OF THE MONTH OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT MAKES MORE SENSE OR WOULD, YOU KNOW, COULD JUSTIFY SENDING, YOU KNOW, YOUR TRUCKS OUT, YOUR EXPENSIVE TRUCKS AND YOUR EXPENSIVE HELP OUT.
UH, AND IT WOULD BE A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT WAY TO DO IT.
BUT ANYWAY, CALLING WASTE MANAGEMENT ESPECIALLY WAS, WAS A JOKE.
I MEAN, I, IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR A LONG TIME.
AND AGAIN, I HAD TO TRICK THE SYSTEM JUST TO GET TO TALK TO SOMEBODY.
BUT IT WOULD, IT WOULD REALLY REDUCE YOUR, UM, YOUR CALL TIME FOR YOUR CALL CENTER, YOUR CALLING TREE.
IF YOU WOULD JUST MAKE YOUR WEBSITE MORE EFFICIENT.
YOU KNOW, LET THE, LET THE CUSTOMER SCHEDULE, YOU KNOW, THEIR OWN PICKUP OR WHATEVER.
MAYBE YOU COULD HAVE AN EMAIL WHERE THE CUSTOMERS, IF THEY DON'T HAVE AN URGENT SITUATION WHERE YOU COULD JUST EMAIL SOMEBODY AT WASTE MANAGEMENT, YOU KNOW, KEEP IT SIMPLE.
I MEAN, LET'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE ANYMORE, BUT YES, YOU STILL NEED TO HAVE A WAY TO CALL SOMEBODY.
UM, SO YEAH, I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT PEOPLE HIDING, UH, THEIR, THEIR GRASS AND THEIR AND THE GARBAGE AND, AND THEY'RE DOING IT ALREADY.
JUST, I, I CAN TELL YOU HOW TO DO IT.
I I'M NOT DOING IT, BUT I, LISA, LET'S NOT SHARE TOO MUCH.
YOU NEED SOME TIPS? I CAN, I CAN, I CAN HELP YOU.
ARE YOU STILL HERE? ALSO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.
SORRY I COULDN'T SEE YOU BACK THERE.
UM, I GUESS MY QUESTION, MOST OF IT HAS BEEN REITERATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
I FEEL LIKE I'M PAYING PREMIUM PRICE FOR NO PREMIUM, ANY KIND OF SERVICE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE, UH, WM CAN'T PICK A DAY DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY AS MR. MCBRIDE SUGGESTED, AND FEBRUARY, IF THAT'S ALL THEY CAN MANAGE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN AN OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE I DO WITH HUGE TREES ON BOTH SIDES OF ME, IN BACK OF ME, ALL AROUND ME THAT ARE PUTTING DOWN DEBRIS ALL YEAR.
AND I TRY TO PICK UP, MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO BE PICKED UP AT LEAST ONE TIME DURING THE MONTH.
MY OTHER THING, I DON'T LIKE BAGS.
I USE THE BIG ROUND TUBS THAT SAY YARD WASTE ONLY CAN WE NOT USE THOSE ANYMORE? I HAD TO TAKE ALL OF MY TUBS ONCE MY CART CAME AFTER THREE CALLS TO WM OUT OF THE, AND INTO THEIR TOTE, DOESN'T ALL FIT.
AND I COULD FILL THOSE SEVEN TUBS THREE TIMES OVER RIGHT NOW.
AND I FEEL LIKE OUR CITY MANAGER DID A VERY, VERY POOR JOB OF LEADING YOU DOWN THE GARDEN PATH AND LEAVING US WITH THIS TRAVESTY.
HE'S GONNA BE GOING, WE'RE STUCK, IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME.
COUNCILMAN GREGORY, DID YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS AT THIS TIME, OR DID GO AHEAD.
I FIRST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING THIS EVENING.
I'M JUST GONNA TELL YOU THAT RIGHT UP FRONT.
UM, I ALSO AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN COOPER.
UM, IT WASN'T BROKEN, UM, BEFORE WE DID THIS.
I, DAVE, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU, AND I DON'T MEAN THIS IN A BAD WAY, BUT THAT WAS KIND OF NICE.
NOW I KNOW YOU QUITE FREQUENTLY AND I'M SURE THAT, UM, WE ALL HAVE A MORE EFFICIENT USE OF OUR TIME.
I JUST WANNA MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I HEARD HERE TONIGHT THAT I AGREE WITH.
UM, I, I DON'T THINK WE'RE EVER GONNA BE ABLE TO DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT IS EQUITABLE BECAUSE AN EQUITABLE SYSTEM SUGGESTS THAT DECATUR IS A ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
AND WE ARE, AND I DON'T KNOW MANY CITIES THAT ARE, QUITE FRANKLY, I'M THANKFUL WE'RE NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL BECAUSE I REALLY THINK IT'S THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT MAKES US STRONGER.
SO, YOU KNOW, I ALSO HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT, WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE COST OF GARBAGE DOWN, BUT WHAT HAPPENED IS THERE WAS AN INCREASE
[01:25:01]
AND THERE WAS A LARGE DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO OUR CITIZENS.UH, I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE I HAVE GORGEOUS OAK TREES ALL AROUND ME, RIGHT? DECATUR HAS THE DISTINCTION OF HAVING AN AWARD CALLING US TREE CITY, USA, AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT TREE CITY USA MEANS.
IT MEANS LEAVES USA IN THE FALL AND IN THE SPRING AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND SO I, I THINK THOSE WERE, WAS A GUIDING PRINCIPLE THAT CERTAINLY DIDN'T ASSIST US IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW GARBAGE PROPOSAL.
UM, SOMEONE ELSE MENTIONED HERE THIS EVENING THAT, UH, BEAUTIFIED DECATUR, THERE ARE A LOT OF OUR CITIZENS THAT REALLY PARTICIPATE YEAR ROUND WITH BEAUTIFIED DECATUR AND TAKE PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP.
AND, UM, THAT MEANS THAT THERE, UM, ARE NOT 96 GALLON CONTAINERS SITTING IN THE YARDS ON THE CURBS NEXT TO THE GARAGE IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE, AROUND THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE.
UM, IF THERE ARE SMALLER CONTAINERS AND PEOPLE WANT THEM, WE HAVE HEARD DAVE SAY THAT THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT, UM, WE NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IS, UM, OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION.
AND I THINK THAT THE RESULT OF THIS NEW GARBAGE PROPOSAL DOESN'T TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AT ALL.
I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COMMUNICATION, AND I KNOW SUZANNE SAYS THE LETTER DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
UM, THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS ABOUT THAT LETTER THAT I WANT TO SUGGEST THAT IT ALSO WENT TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO WORK WITH THE CITY IN DETERMINING WHERE OUR BOUNDARIES ARE, UM, BECAUSE THERE IS ENOUGH CONFUSION AS IT IS, UM, WITHOUT SOMEBODY RECEIVING A LETTER THAT IS NOT IN THE WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
UM, WHEN I LOOK AT THE LETTER, AND I, LIKE SUZANNE, DON'T LIKE TO THINK THAT I'M REALLY THICK HEADED, BUT I THOUGHT THAT THE LETTER SAID ONE THING, AND I'M TALKING TO COUNCILMAN KUHL AND HE SAYS, NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT IT SAYS.
AND I SAID, NO, LOOK AT THAT POINT TOO, IT DOESN'T SAY THAT.
SO THE COMMUNICATION WAS NOT CLEAR.
UM, I REMEMBER SITTING HERE WHEN BOTH OF YOU GENTLEMEN WERE HERE AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU WOULD DEVELOP YOUR OWN BROCHURES AND THAT NEVER HAPPENED.
AND, AND YES, SO THE CITY ENDED UP, UH, PAYING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BROCHURE THAT WENT OUT.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE EVER HAPPENED.
UM, SO I, I JUST THINK TO SUM IT UP AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IF WE CAN'T GET TO BACK TO WHERE WE WERE, AND I REALIZE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A COST TO GETTING BACK TO WHERE WE WERE, BUT IF THE SERVICES ARE BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE, UM, AND THERE IS STILL A HARDSHIP, UM, OPTION, I DON'T THINK INDIVIDUALS MIND PAYING ADDITIONAL DOLLARS.
I, I KNOW THAT WHEN I LOOKED AT THE $120, IT WAS KIND OF LIKE, WELL, I'LL HAVE TO PAY THAT ALL RIGHT UP FRONT.
IF I PAY THE $120 AND I CHOOSE TO HAVE MY YARD WAY SET OUT ON MARCH 1ST, THAT MEANS IN ADDITION TO THE 96 GALLON CONTAINER THAT I CAN'T GET ALL OF MY YARD WASTE IN, I'M GONNA PAY $5 FOR AN ADDITIONAL BANK.
AND SOMEONE SAID HERE TONIGHT THAT WE WROTE A BLANK CHECK OUTTA YOUR POCKET BOOKS.
AND SO WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT FIXED.
AND I THINK THAT COVERS IT, DR. HORN.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, RESIDENTS ARE RIGHT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXTREMELY LARGE INCREASE IN THE COST OF PREMIUM YARD WASTE COLLECTION.
PAYING $120 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE IS A HIGH PRICE TO PAY, PARTICULARLY WHEN THREE MONTHS OF UNLIMITED YARD WASTE PICKUP IS ALREADY INCLUDED IN BASIC SERVICES AND SOME HAULERS ARE NOT.
UM, AL UH, NOT HAVING SERVICE IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE EVEN MORE UPSET BY A PROPOSED $5 PER
[01:30:01]
BAG FEE FOR YARD WASTES THAT DOES NOT FIT INTO A TOTE.THIS FEE IS SIMPLY RIDICULOUS.
DO WE REALLY WANT OUR SENIORS LUGGING LARGE 64 OR 96 GALLON TOTES ACROSS THEIR LAWNS TO PICK UP LEAVE STICKS AND GRASS CLIPPINGS SO THEY CAN AVOID A $5 PER BAG FEE? FINALLY, WHY ARE RESIDENTS PAYING $10 PER MONTH WHEN SOME HAULERS ARE NOT EVEN COLLECTING YARD WASTE IN 12 MONTH PERIOD OF TIME? IN THEORY, ALLOWING FREE MARKET AND COMPETITION TO ESTABLISH THE TERMS OF PREMIUM YARD WASTE MAY HAVE BEEN A GOOD IDEA.
BUT IN PRACTICE, DESPITE SEVERAL DIFFERENT BUSINESS MODELS, EVERY HAULER CAME UP WITH THE SAME FEE OF $120 A YEAR, REQUIRE, IN SOME CASES THAT FEE TO BE PAID IN ADVANCE.
AND AGAIN, A FEW HAULERS ARE ACTUALLY PROVIDING YARD WASTE SERVICE TO INDIVIDUALS IN AREAS THEY ARE NOT RECEIVING GARBAGE AND RECYCLING SERVICES FROM.
SO THIS HAS RESULTED IN JUSTIFIED LEGITIMATE AND REAL CONCERNS FROM OUR RESIDENTS.
TO BE CLEAR, WASTE MANAGEMENT IS A PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE WITH AN $83 MILLION MARKET CAPITALIZATION.
THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN DECATUR IS $49,039, AND WE HAVE A POVERTY RATE OF 20%, AND WE'RE PROPOSING $5 PER BAG YARD WASTE FEE.
NOW, HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS, UH, TO THE CITY MANAGER, UH, THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT.
IF YOU'RE GETTING PREMIUM SERVICE, THERE'S NO FEE FOR LAWN LEAF BAGS.
THERE'S NO FEE FOR, UH, TYING UP BRANCHES.
YOU GET PREMIUM YARD WASTE SERVICE NUMBER TWO, NO CHARGING 12 MONTHS IN ADVANCE FOR SERVICE AT BEST.
RIGHT NOW, THIS IS A SEVEN MONTH SERVICE, NOT A 12 MONTH SERVICE, NOT A THREE MONTH SERVICE.
IT IS A A SEVEN MONTH SERVICE.
SO WHY ARE PEOPLE PAYING 12 MONTHS IN ADVANCE FOR SOMETHING THAT ISN'T 12 MONTHS NEXT? UM, IF THERE ARE THREE MONTHS COVERED UNDER BASIC SERVICE AND NO PICKUPS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, IT SHOULD BE AT, AT MOST $70 A YEAR, NOT $120 A YEAR BECAUSE THE SERVICE ISN'T BEING UTILIZED FOR MANY OF THESE MONTHS.
UM, ALSO I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT THIS COULD BECOME A LARGER CITY ISSUE IF WE DON'T REMEDIATE IT SOON.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE MORE YARD WASTE MAY END UP IN OUR STORM DRAINS, AND THEREFORE THAT MEANS THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO HAVE TO WORK EXTRA DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE STORM DRAINS DON'T FILL AND CAUSE FLOODING IN OUR STREETS.
AND I WOULD ALSO MENTION THAT THE DECATUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ALREADY HAVING RECORD NUMBERS OF CALLS YET AGAIN.
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT DECIDE LEAF BURNING IS THEIR ONLY OPTION? AS WAS SAID VERY EARLY ON IN THIS DISCUSSION, IT IS THE CITY COUNCIL THAT MAKES THE DECISION ON WHAT THE FEES ARE GOING TO BE FOR PREMIUM YARD WASTE.
WE DROPPED THE BALL WHEN WE MADE THIS, WHEN WE VOTED ON THIS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
WE SHOULD NOT DROP THE BALL NOW.
AND ULTIMATELY, IF THE HAULERS DO NOT CHANGE THE TERMS TO BE MORE FAVORABLE TO THE CITIZENS OF DECATUR, THEN THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD AND MUST MAKE THE CHANGES IN THE ORDINANCE TO MAKE THEM MORE FAVORABLE.
THANK AND JUST ONE MORE NOTE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY BROUGHT UP, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING THE HARDEST TO MAINTAIN THEIR YARDS AND NOT GET FINED FOR, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT ARE TOO LONG AND BEING ARE THE ONES WHO ARE PAYING THE GREATEST COST UNDER THIS PLAN.
AND SO THE VERY, WE'RE PUNISHING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO HELP US MAKE DECATUR MORE BEAUTIFUL.
AND THEN MR. WRIGHT HAS BEEN DYING TO TALK FOR SOME TIME, BUT WE'LL HEAR FROM MR. KEHL FIRST.
[01:35:01]
UH, MY MINE WILL BE PRETTY QUICK.I GOT TO CALL MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY AN AIRLINE AND A CELL PHONE COMPANY ALL IN ONE DAY.
AND EVERY ONE OF 'EM WAS, YOU KNOW, 15 KEYSTROKES TO GET TO SOMEBODY.
YOU FINALLY JUST, I'D FINALLY JUST GET ON THERE AND SAY, REPRESENTATIVE AGENT, AGENT AGENT, UNTIL I CAN FINALLY GET THROUGH AND GET THAT.
PROBABLY WASN'T EVEN A PERSON.
IT WAS PROBABLY AI WHEN YOU FINALLY GOT IT.
ANYWAY, THING, BUT, UH, SO FOR ME, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL IS WE NEED A LOCAL REP, AS A COUNCILMAN COOPER SAID, UH, FOR SOMEBODY TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO IN THIS CITY, UH, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO BE CALLING OUTSIDE THE CITY, THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY, THE AIRLINE, THE CELL PHONE, THOSE AREN'T NECESSARILY DECATUR COMPANIES.
AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE LARGE ALSO, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE SOMEBODY LOCAL FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS TO TALK TO.
AND THE THE OTHER COMMENT IS WE'RE GONNA NEED A MINIMUM OF TWO OPTIONS.
OKAY? YOU COULD BRING, UH, UH, DAVE, YOU COULD BRING US ONE FEE FOR EVERYBODY, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE RIGHT BACK HERE AGAIN.
WE'LL HAVE EVERYBODY IN HERE AGAIN BECAUSE WE HAVE MR. TAYLOR WHO HARDLY HAS ANY GARBAGE.
AND WE HAVE MS. SHADE WHO'S GOT BAGS AND BAGS BECAUSE SHE'S GOT TREES.
SO ONE SIZE IS NOT GONNA FIT ALL.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA NEED AT LEAST A COUPLE OPTIONS, UH, OR WE'RE GONNA BE RIGHT BACK HERE, MR. WRIGHTON, HOW ARE WE GONNA GET OUTTA THIS MESS? WELL, UM, I THINK THAT COMMENTS BOTH MADE BY COUNCILMAN GREGORY AND, AND COUNCILMAN KOEL AND, AND MR. SHAW ON THIS POINT, I THINK BEAR, UH, REVISITING IN THE INTEREST OF TRYING TO GET TO THIS VERY USEFUL, UH, DISCUSSION TO, UH, WHAT DO WE DO NEXT? UH, AND I THINK THAT THAT, ALTHOUGH THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS, 'CAUSE THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT SERVICE EXPECTATIONS, I REALLY THINK THAT THEY FALL UNDER TWO BROAD CATEGORIES.
UM, THE FIRST IS TWEAKING, UH, THE EXISTING, UH, SYSTEM WHERE THE SYSTEM THAT WE'VE CREATED IN DECEMBER WHEREBY, UM, YARD WASTE IS DECOUPLED FROM BASIC SERVICE, BUT TWEAK IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT DEALS WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF, OF THE CITIZEN REFINED, OBNOXIOUS, LIKE THE, LIKE THE EXTRA BAG FEE AND, AND THE BILLING FREQUENCY AND OPTIONS, OTHER OPTIONS, THE THINGS THAT, THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED HERE.
TWEAKING THAT SO THAT WE STILL HAVE THE BASIC, UM, 2350 FOR WEEKLY GARBAGE, WEEKLY RECYCLING, FIVE TIMES BULKY WASTE PICKUP PER YEAR AND, AND SEASONAL PICKUP FOR SIX WEEKS IN SPRING AND FALL OF UNLIMITED YARD WASTE.
ARE WE JUST TWEAKING WHAT, WHAT REMAINS? OR THE SECOND? AND THERE'S, THERE'S DIFFERENT VARIATIONS OF THAT, BUT THAT'S STILL JUST TWEAKING THAT SYSTEM OR THE ALTERNATIVE, WHICH DAVE FIRST MENTIONED.
AND THAT IS TO SAY, OKAY, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A, UH, UM, A UNIVERSAL FEE, UH, THAT EVERY, EVERYBODY PAYS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY, THEY USE YARD WASTE, THAT IS UNLIMITED, UH, WASTE MANAGEMENT.
AND I'M SURE THE GFL CAN PRICE THAT OUT AS WELL.
UM, SO THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT PATHS TO GO DOWN THAT I THINK ARE FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT.
WHICH PATH IS COUNCIL MORE COMFORTABLE, UH, GOING DOWN? WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SEE SOME OPTIONS.
'CAUSE WE, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE GONNA SAY.
YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T EVEN A BALLPARK OF, WELL, INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, OKAY, SO A DOLLAR A MONTH WASN'T VIABLE, BUT ARE WE TALKING $5 OR ARE WE TALKING 20 BUCKS? I MEAN, WE DON'T, WE WE'VE GOTTA HAVE MORE THAN, YEAH, FAIR ENOUGH.
I ALSO THINK IT'S A MATTER OF COMMUNICATION.
I THINK WE'RE PAST THE TWEAKING AND TINKERING STAGE.
SO IF THOSE ARE THE WORDS YOU WANNA USE, UM, I'M THINKING MORE LIKE OVERHAUL.
UM, IT WAS VERY CLEAR TONIGHT THAT THE CITIZENS ARE NOT HAPPY THAT THEY FEEL THAT THEY'RE PAYING MORE FOR LESS.
UM, SO I WANNA SEE WHAT DAVE SAYS IT'S GONNA COST TO DO 736 CAR MILES.
UM, AND THEN I WANNA GO FROM THERE.
PAT, ANY COMMENTS? YOU LOOK KIND OF PAINED, NO, AGAIN, UM, YEAH, THE, THE, THE PREMIUM IN THAT, AND AGAIN, I LIVE IN THE WEST END.
I HAVE NO TREES, BUT I GET EVERYBODY'S LEAVES, YOU KNOW? UM, I WILL AGREE, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SUPPORTING THEIR YES, THEIR NEEDS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T RAKE THEIR LEAVES, BUT ONE TIME A YEAR AND YOU GOT 25 BAGS SITTING THERE AND NO TRUCKS CAN HOLD THAT.
YOU HIT A FEW HOUSES AND THAT'S IT.
SO THAT'S NOT ECONOMICAL FOR, UH, FOR ANY OF THE HAULERS IN THAT.
UM, I THINK AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, UH, THE BASIC, UH, EVERYBODY'S COSTS HAVE GONE UP.
I PAY, I'M ON A FIXED INCOME WHEN MY PENSIONS IS BANKRUPT, SO I'M ON A, I'M ON A FIXED INCOME TOO, BUT WE ALL KNOW ALL OUR COSTS FOR EVERYTHING.
UH, I'D LIKE TO GO TO MY INSURANCE, UH, HOMEOWNERS AND THAT AND SAY, HEY, I'M NOT GONNA PAY ALL THIS, BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN
[01:40:01]
'CAUSE THEY'RE GONNA CHARGE US ANYWAY.SO, UH, WE WANNA KEEP VIABLE, UH, GARBAGE, UH, HAULERS IN TOWN TO DO DO THE JOB THAT, THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
BUT AGAIN, UH, LET'S, LET'S HEAR FROM WHAT THEY BRING BACK AND, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
BUT AGAIN, CITIZENS THAT DON'T, YOU KNOW, RAKE THEIR LEAVES, BUT ONCE A YEAR AND THEY HAVE 20, 25 BAGS OUT THERE, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT RIGHT FOR THE HAULERS BECAUSE THAT JUST FILLS UP THE TRUCKS.
AND SOME OF THOSE HOUSES, PAT, IT'S 25 BAGS A WEEK.
I MEAN, ON THE, ESPECIALLY IN THE WEST END, THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF TREES WITH A LOT OF LEAVES THAT THEY MAY BE DOING 25 BAGS A WEEK.
OKAY, I LIVE IN THE WEST END, SO I KNOW A LOT OF THE, WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, EVEN I WOULD HAVE NO TREES IN A SMALL BOULEVARD.
UH, I MULCH WITH A, WITH MY LAWNMOWER AND I COULD HAVE FIVE BAGS IN THAT.
SO MR. COOPER, AGAIN, I THINK WE JUST KIND OF GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD FROM WHERE WE WERE.
I KNOW WE WERE, THEY WERE JUST PAYING AND I WOULD AGREE THAT THE $1 THAT THEY WERE PAYING WAS, WAS, WAS LOW.
BUT THE UNLIMITED SERVICE, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN HERE WOULD SAY IT WASN'T.
BUT THERE HAD TO BE THERE $2, THANK YOU.
BUT THERE HAD TO BE, UH, SOMEWHERE A SLIGHT ABOVE THAT THAT'S, THAT'S WORKABLE.
AND ABOVE THAT WOULD NOT BE $120 OR IT WOULD NOT BE $10 A MONTH.
SO COME UP WITH A FEE FOR GOING BACK AND WHAT IT WOULD BE, WHAT FEE WOULD IT WOULD NEED TO BE ABOVE THAT $2.
TO ME THAT'S REAL SIMPLE, BUT NOTHING RIDICULOUS OR WE ARE, AGAIN, WE ARE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE'RE AT AND IF, UM, THE COUNCIL HAD TO SET A FEE, WE SET A FEE, UH, YES, WE RISK THE COMPANIES SAYING, WELL, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THE YARD SERVICE THAT CITIZENS NEED TO UNDERSTAND.
THAT WOULD BE A RISK, BUT SOMEBODY OUT THERE WILL WANT TO DO IT.
THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT IT.
UM, SO THAT'S WHY I THINK WE SHOULD START AT ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE ON WITH THE REST OF THE AGENDA.
MR. HORN? I I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, UM, ECHO COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY'S, UM, VIEW THAT WHAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT IS TWEAKING.
OKAY? WE ESSENTIALLY ALLOWED THE HAULERS TO SET THE PARAMETERS UNDER WHICH PREMIUM YARD WASTE SERVICES WERE GOING TO BE ADMINISTERED.
AND WHAT WE GOT WAS EVERY SINGLE HAULER SAYING $120 FOR 12 MONTHS OF SERVICE, OF WHICH MOST OF THE HAULERS ARE NOT EVEN DOING 12 MONTHS OF SERVICE.
SOME ARE CHARGING $5 PER LAWN BAG.
AND, AND THIS TO ME IS A RED FLAG THAT WE GOT IT WRONG, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO SPEND, UH, A LOT OF TIME FIGURING OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET IT RIGHT AND WE'RE GONNA PUT IT AS A CHANGE IN THE ORDINANCE.
AND SO IF THE WASTE HAULERS WANT TO, UH, BEGIN REFLECTING ON WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE, GREAT.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, UM, WE, WE ALLOWED PRI FREE MARKETS TO WORK.
AND NOW WE NEED TO REEXAMINE THIS.
MR. WRIGHT, YOU KINDA CLEAR ON WHAT WE WERE ASKING? YES MA'AM.
ALRIGHT, THEN WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO
[2. Resolution Authorizing a Sourcewell Contract for the Purchase of One (1) Roadlazer RoadPak Paint Sprayer]
ITEM TWO ON THE AGENDA.WE'LL GIVE IT A MOMENT FOR FOLKS TO, UH, BEGIN EXITING THE BUILDING.
WHERE ARE Y'ALL GOING?
IF THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE BACK OF THE COUNCIL CAN EXIT THE, UH, CHAMBERS, PLEASE.
ITEM TWO RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SOURCE WELL CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF ONE ROAD BLA ROAD LASER ROAD PACK PINK SPRAYER.
MOTION THE RESOLUTION NEW PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
MR. NEWELL, THIS IS A, UH, CHIEF NEWELL
[01:45:01]
A TRUCK MOUNTED STRIPING MACHINE THAT, UH, WE USE.ANY QUESTIONS? UH, CAN YOU SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT? WE'VE GOT A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS GOING ON IN THE BACK OF THE CHAMBER AND WE CAN'T HEAR MR. NEWELL, SO IF WE COULD ASK PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE TO QUIET DOWN PLEASE.
BUT THE, UH, THIS IS A, A, A TRUCK NOW TO STRIPING MACHINE THE CITY USES FOR, UH, STRIPING STREETS.
ANYBODY HAVE BIG QUESTIONS? LISA, WAS THAT A QUESTION? NO, THE AUDIENCE MIGHT HAVE STAYED IF YOU WERE GONNA HAVE TWO ROAD LASER ROAD PACK SYSTEM OPTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OTHER THAN THAT? SEEING NONE.
[3. Resolution Authorizing Stipulated Agreement 2309 Concerning Safety Improvements at the At-Grade Crossing with the Illinois Central Railroad Company at Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Wood Street]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING STIPULATED AGREEMENT 2309 CONCERNING SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT THE AT GRADE CROSSING WITH THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY AND MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.DRIVE IN WOOD STREET MOTION, THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
AND HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THAT SPRAYER.
OKAY, MR. NEWELL, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS TWO ITEMS. UH, THE MEMO I THINK IS ATTACHED TO THE SECOND ITEM IN THE LIST, BUT, UH, THESE ARE, ARE BOTH RAILROAD CROSSINGS, UH, AT, UH, AT, UM, ML KING AND WOOD AND ML KING AT, UH, PEORIA DRIVE.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH STATED IN THE MEMO.
MR. MCDANIEL, HOW OFTEN IS THEY? IT'S, WELL, I'D LOSE TRACK OF HOW MANY YEARS, BUT THEY'VE DONE THAT ONE BEFORE.
HOW OFTEN DO THEY DO A LOT OF THE RAILROAD CROSSINGS ON THE AVERAGE OVER LET'S SAY A 10 YEAR SPAN? THEY, I THINK THE, THE ICC IS VERY INTERESTED IN GETTING GATES AT EVERY CROSSING THAT THEY POSSIBLY CAN.
SO THEY, SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHY THIS ONE CAME UP WAS OKAY, WAS THEIR, UH, DESIRE TO PUT GATES, ESPECIALLY AT THE ONE OF PEORIA.
THEY CAN'T REALLY PUT 'EM AT WOOD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE.
[4. Resolution Authorizing Stipulated Agreement 2307 Concerning Safety Improvements at the At-Grade Crossing with the Illinois Central Railroad Company at Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Near Peoria Avenue]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING STIPULATED AGREEMENT 2307 CONCERNING SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT THE AT GRADE CROSSING WITH THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY AT MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.MOTION TO RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
ANYTHING FURTHER? MR. NEWELL? ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. NEWELL? SEE NONE.
[5. Ordinance Authorizing the City of Decatur of Macon County, Illinois to Borrow Funds from the Public Water Supply Loan Program]
AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF DECATUR OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS TO BORROW FUNDS FROM THE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY LOAN PROGRAM.MOTION TO THE ORDINANCE TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
LEMME CLARIFY, THIS IS NOT OUR PUBLIC LOAN FUND OR WATER FUND.
THIS IS ANOTHER APPLICATION TO THE STATE'S REVOLVING LOAN FUND.
MR. NEWELL, YOU WANNA TELL US ANYTHING EXCITING ABOUT THIS? THIS IS FOR THE ELECTRICAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT BRIEFLY WHEN WE MET DOWN AT THE, UH, AT THE SOUTH WATER TREATMENT PLANT.
UH, IT'S $21 MILLION PROJECT, UM, AND WOULD BE THROUGH THE, THE STATE LOAN YOU NEVER DISAPPOINT.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. NEWELL MREL? JUST REAL QUICK.
SO THE DEBT SERVICE WILL BE PAID THROUGH THE WATER FUND, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT.
IS THAT HOW I READ THAT? CORRECT.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SCENE NONE.
[6. Resolution Authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Decatur and the Macon County Conservation District for Assistance with Controlled Burning]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF DECATUR AND THE MACON COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT FOR ASSISTANCE WITH CONTROLLED BURNING MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.SECOND, MR. WRIGHTON, WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR, UH, GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE MACON COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT.
THEY INCREASINGLY ARE HELPING US OUT WITH CONTROL BURNS WE DO ON A REGULAR BASIS, ESPECIALLY AT THE, UM, OAKLEY SEDIMENT BASIN, BUT IN OTHER LOCATIONS AS, AS, AS WELL.
AND I'M, I'M GRATEFUL TO THEM.
AND FOR THESE AND OTHER INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATIONS WE DO WITH OTHER LOCAL TAXING BODIES, DR. HORN JUST WANNA CONGRATULATE THE CITY OF DECATUR AND MACON COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT ON FORMALIZING THIS PARTNERSHIP.
UM, PRESCRIBED BURNING SAVES THE CITY MONEY COMPARED TO MOWING AND IT'S JUST A MORE EFFECTIVE HABITAT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY.
SO KUDOS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? SEE NONE.
SEVEN AYES DONATES ITEM SEVEN RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING
[7. Resolution Accepting the Cummins Midstate Power Inc. Quote for the Rebuild of the Engine for Fire Truck #366]
THE CUMMINS MID-STATE POWER INC.QUOTE FOR THE REBUILD OF THE ENGINE FOR FIRETRUCK NUMBER 360 6.
[01:50:01]
TO THE RESOLUTION.DOES MR. NEWELL HAVE FIRETRUCKS NOW TOO? CHIEF, WE JUST MAINTAINED THEM.
MR. WRIGHTON COMMENTS? I HAVE NOTHING TO ADD FROM WHAT'S IN THE STAFF REPORT.
[8. Consent Calendar: Items on the Consent Agenda/Calendar are matters requiring City Council approval or acceptance, but which are routine and recurring in nature, are not controversial, are matters of limited discretion, and about which little or no discussion is anticipated. However, staff’s assessment of what should be included on the Consent Agenda/Calendar can be in error. For this reason, any Consent Agenda/Calendar item can be removed from the Consent Agenda/Calendar by any member of the governing body, for any reason, without the need for concurrence by any other governing body member. Items removed from the Consent Agenda/Calendar will be discussed and voted on separately from the remainder of the Consent Agenda/Calendar.]
WANNA REMOVE ANYTHING FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR AGENDA? SEE NONE.ITEM A, ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY 28 0 1 SOUTHLAND ROAD, ITEM B, ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY 2222 SOUTH SHORES DRIVE, ITEM C, ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY 29 81 TURIN ROAD, ITEM D, ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY 30 30 TURIN ROAD ITEM E.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ACTION REGARDING UNSAFE STRUCTURES.
I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEMS AS PRESENTED.
[VII. Other Business]
COUNCIL HAVE OTHER BUSINESS TO BRING BEFORE THE BODY THIS EVENING? MR. KUHL MAKE IT QUICK.I I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UH, MS. MORLAND IF SHE WOULD CLARIFY SOMETHING, UH, ON THE LIFT FEE, UM, ON THE INDEPENDENT LIVING.
UM, CAN YOU JUST VERIFY THAT IF AN INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER IS A COMMERCIAL INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER, THEY WILL BE CHARGED THE $500 LIFT FEE.
UH, BUT IF THEY ARE NOT REALLY A A, A COMPANY, IT'S JUST AN INDIVIDUAL HOME OR SOMETHING, THERE WOULD NOT BE A CHARGE.
IS THAT, AM I, IS THAT CORRECT? PROBABLY IF THEY, UM, PROVIDE ASSISTED LIVING OR INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES FOR MONEY, BASICALLY, UM, TO THREE OR MORE PERSONS THAT RESIDE THERE IN A RESIDENTIAL SETTING, THEN, UM, AND THEY ARE NOT RELATED TO THE OWNER.
SO IT'S NOT A HOME WITH, YOU KNOW, THREE SISTERS OR SIBLINGS LIVING TOGETHER, THEN UM, THEY FALL UNDERNEATH THE DEFINITION SECTION OF, SO A, A BUSINESS COULD JUST PASS THAT FEE ON TO THE INDIVIDUAL PERSON THAT FELL IN THAT CASE IF THEY SO CHOSE TO YEAH, WE, WE DON'T REGULATE HOW THEY IN TURN, UM, GET THEIR MONEY.
BUT IF THEY'RE CHARGING FOR, UM, TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE, BASICALLY THREE OR MORE PEOPLE IN A RESIDENTIAL SETTING, YEAH THEY ARE SUBJECT TO THAT.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.
COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.