Consumer Homes.

Question:

I am curious about what happens in the locales of various people who may read this. I live in Escambia County, Florida, and we recently got some of the effects of tropical storm Isadore.  Our local newspaper ran an article saying that storm damage in the area is the worst we’ve had in over 4 years. As a result of the wind these storms generate there typically is a number of downed trees and limbs.  I learned today that our county utilities authority will only pick up the "normal" amount of yard trash from resident homes and will charge for labor for any additional quantities.  I was told it was $25 for as much can be loaded in 10 minutes, and then $25 for each additional 5 minutes. I do not have a large amount of yard trash, but it is more than is typical. I was told that any amount that would not fit into a 4′x4′x4′ area would cost extra for removal. I have lived in other areas of the country (North Carolina and South Carolina) that get tropic storms and hurricanes such as we do.  In both of these other areas, after major storms the appropriate local agency would go out of their way to assist citizens in removing the excess debris generated. I find it amazing that in our area after the worst storm in this area in several years, ECUA is only picking up the "normal" amount of yard trash and charging for any additional removal. Lest anyone think I’m asking for a "free ride"–my property taxes fund the utility authority, and I also pay a montly fee for service.  I would think that during exceptional times there should be more provision for additional pickup.  After all–not only do I want my trash removed, but I also don’t want all of my neighbors’ trash piled up creating an ongoing eyesore.  I can understand that pickup service may be delayed–I simply want it to pickup all the trash when service is finally restored. Is my thinking here off?  What happens in areas where you live after storms of this sort? BTW, I wrote to the chairman of the utlities authority and my local board member.  Hopefully they will followup on this as I have requested. Tony

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I am curious about what happens in the locales of various people who may >read this. >I live in Escambia County, Florida, and we recently got some of the effects >of tropical storm Isadore.  Our local newspaper ran an article saying that >storm damage in the area is the worst we’ve had in over 4 years. >As a result of the wind these storms generate there typically is a number of >downed trees and limbs.  I learned today that our county utilities authority >will only pick up the "normal" amount of yard trash from resident homes and >will charge for labor for any additional quantities.  I was told it was $25 >for as much can be loaded in 10 minutes, and then $25 for each additional 5 >minutes. >I do not have a large amount of yard trash, but it is more than is typical. >I was told that any amount that would not fit into a 4′x4′x4′ area would >cost extra for removal. >I have lived in other areas of the country (North Carolina and South >Carolina) that get tropic storms and hurricanes such as we do.  In both of >these other areas, after major storms the appropriate local agency would go >out of their way to assist citizens in removing the excess debris generated. >I find it amazing that in our area after the worst storm in this area in >several years, ECUA is only picking up the "normal" amount of yard trash and >charging for any additional removal. >Lest anyone think I’m asking for a "free ride"–my property taxes fund the >utility authority, and I also pay a montly fee for service.  I would think >that during exceptional times there should be more provision for additional >pickup.  After all–not only do I want my trash removed, but I also don’t >want all of my neighbors’ trash piled up creating an ongoing eyesore.  I can >understand that pickup service may be delayed–I simply want it to pickup >all the trash when service is finally restored. >Is my thinking here off?  What happens in areas where you live after storms >of this sort? >BTW, I wrote to the chairman of the utlities authority and my local board >member.  Hopefully they will followup on this as I have requested.

I think its unlikely that they will back off from this.  Its too much of a cash cow for them to give it up without a major fight. Here are some options for you: 1) Stack it out of sight and throw away as much will fill one trash can each pickup day. 2) Check your yellow pages for things like "cleanup services" or "Contractor cleanup" or "yard cleanup" or "trash removal" and similar headings.  You can probably get it removed for less than the government would charge,  and if you get a bunch of neighbors together so a large dump truck or a big bin would be justified, the cost would become reasonable. 3) Check with your homeowners insurance.  This might be covered and/or they can suggest a service. — Rich Greenberg   Work:  Rich.Greenberg atsign worldspan.com   +1 770-563-6656 N6LRT   Marietta, GA, USA   Play: richgr atsign panix.com     +1 770-321-6507 Eastern time zone.   I speak for myself & my dogs only.     VM’er since CP-67 Canines:Val(Chinook,CGC,TT), Red & Shasta(Husky,(RIP))        Owner:Chinook-L Atlanta Siberian Husky Rescue. www.panix.com/~richgr/   Asst Owner:Sibernet-L

Response:

I live in the Pacific Northwest. After a recent wind storm, my city provided a free area where people could dump stuff. Everyone helped to clean up the mess. Neighbors helped neighbors, etc. In the fall, many cities/towns here will have locations for free dumping of leaves. Also we have a private garbage service here, but in the spring, they have a "Spring cleanup week" where you can go and dump stuff for free at the private garbage service. Many people clean up their yards during this period and it makes the city look much nicer. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I am curious about what happens in the locales of various people who may > read this. > I live in Escambia County, Florida, and we recently got some of the effects > of tropical storm Isadore.  Our local newspaper ran an article saying that > storm damage in the area is the worst we’ve had in over 4 years. > As a result of the wind these storms generate there typically is a number of > downed trees and limbs.  I learned today that our county utilities authority > will only pick up the "normal" amount of yard trash from resident homes and > will charge for labor for any additional quantities.  I was told it was $25 > for as much can be loaded in 10 minutes, and then $25 for each additional 5 > minutes. > I do not have a large amount of yard trash, but it is more than is typical. > I was told that any amount that would not fit into a 4′x4′x4′ area would > cost extra for removal. > I have lived in other areas of the country (North Carolina and South > Carolina) that get tropic storms and hurricanes such as we do.  In both of > these other areas, after major storms the appropriate local agency would go > out of their way to assist citizens in removing the excess debris generated. > I find it amazing that in our area after the worst storm in this area in > several years, ECUA is only picking up the "normal" amount of yard trash and > charging for any additional removal. > Lest anyone think I’m asking for a "free ride"–my property taxes fund the > utility authority, and I also pay a montly fee for service.  I would think > that during exceptional times there should be more provision for additional > pickup.  After all–not only do I want my trash removed, but I also don’t > want all of my neighbors’ trash piled up creating an ongoing eyesore.  I can > understand that pickup service may be delayed–I simply want it to pickup > all the trash when service is finally restored. > Is my thinking here off?  What happens in areas where you live after storms > of this sort? > BTW, I wrote to the chairman of the utlities authority and my local board > member.  Hopefully they will followup on this as I have requested. > Tony

Response:

> I live in Escambia County, Florida, and we recently got some of the effects > of tropical storm Isadore.  . . . > I do not have a large amount of yard trash, but it is more than is typical. > I was told that any amount that would not fit into a 4′x4′x4′ area would > cost extra for removal. . . . > I find it amazing that in our area after the worst storm in this area in > several years, ECUA is only picking up the "normal" amount of yard trash and > charging for any additional removal. . . . > What happens in areas where you live after storms > of this sort?

I take it you cannot burn yard waste. The ice storm of January, 1999, did many millions of dollars worth of damage to trees.  In Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the municipality rented chippers and sent them out on garbage collection rooutes.  You just stacked the broken branches at the roadside.  My pile from one acre was about 6 ft. high, 6 ft. deep and 25 ft. long. Government-paid chipping was expected to last four to six weeks but it took all summer.  The chips were trucked away to park nurseries.  If you wanted some left on your property that was free too. — Don Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)

Response:

>Is my thinking here off?  What happens in areas where you live after storms >of this sort?

In my area, no taxpayer supported entity picks up any trash at all. If you have trash on your property, you truck it yourself, or you pay a private contractor to truck it.  After storms, neighbors often get together (or work individually) and cut the fallen trees from the roads, because it would be a long long time before the Town got to the side roads.  There is no ‘authority’ or government refuse pickup department.  The Town does operate a transfer station supported by user fees, but you have to take the stuff there yourself.  Our taxes are very low. What you are asking is that a taxpayer funded service, provide additional services.  You may be willing to pay for it through higher taxes.  Others may not, and may regard a user fee as a fairer method of allocating the extra cost.  Some taxpayers may have little or no ‘extra’ debris, while others may have huge amounts.   Evidently, the cost of ‘normal’ pickups is built into the fixed rate structure.  Extra pickups would indeed cost more, so who should pay? The ‘authority’ structure may also be a stumbling block to flexibility.  If they are not funded by the municipal general fund (which could shift money, not fix potholes so as to be able to pick up more trash) but instead are a sole-purpose entity that must operate from a contractural budget with the constituent municiplaities, then they have no way to raise the extra funds. Yours is a question of allocation and reasonableness, not a black and white right or wrong situation. -v.

Response:

Well, here’s the conclusion of the whole matter… I sent an email to my district’s utilities authority board member and the chairman of the board asking about this.  Later that same morning I noticed a truck outside picking up my yard trash.  A couple of hours after that I got a call from a staffer telling me that the chairman had forwarded him my email and asked him to make sure this got taken care of.  He was the one who sent the truck. What I was told by the staffer was that after storms they do generally charge for large pickups since often insurance companies will pay for debris removal and this helps them cover costs.  In my case since the amount of the debris was only slightly over the normal amount they would handle this without a fee.  (This was different than what customer service told me, but since it was taken care of, I wasn’t very concerned.) Tony

Response:

>since it was taken care of, I wasn’t very concerned.)

But what about all the other homeowners in town? -v.

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