This post was updated on July 14th.
“Boroff also informed council members the city is planning to stop operations at the compost and brush facility after Aug. 1 because of a cut in funding from the Ottawa-Seneca-Sandusky Solid Waste District.He said in contacting other cities his office could not find any other city that offers the service for free.
Council President Paul Elchert and Councilman at Large Pete Galipeau disagreed with closing the facility.Elchert suggested bringing in townships that have no space to use the facility on a pay-to-use basis to help fund the facility. But Boroff said the city still would have to manage the facility.
Galipeau said residents already are paying one of the higher municipal taxes and expect these kinds of services.The matter was referred to the Street, Sidewalk and Sewer Committee for a meeting to be held 4:45 p.m. July 16 at the municipal building, 51 E. Market St.”
From the A-T http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/507181.html
Today this appeared in the A-T under opinion from Mayor Boroff:
“Brush and compost pile. There has been a lot of discussion about the possible temporary closing of the brush and yard waste facility at the Water Pollution Control Center. Now, this facility allows citizens to bring their brush to the plant where it is eventually ground up into coarse mulch. The mulch is given away free of charge at certain times of the year.
Contrary to popular belief, the brush facility is not funded by city income taxes. The joint solid waste district allocates grant money each year to the facility to subsidize the costs of grinding the brush. We had a big storm a few years ago and because so much debris and brush was generated, the joint solid waste district fronted grant money to the city a year in advance.
We kept operating that way, getting money a year in advance, until the solid waste district said it no longer could do that. Furthermore, securing future grant money is always a questionable circumstance. So, at this time, we have no money to grind brush, and, it appears we need $10,000-15,000 to grind up what we have. If we have a big storm, we certainly are in trouble. We have to have a place to take brush and limbs from city property in such an eventuality.
The administration and City Council are looking at many options in order to keep this service operating. Quite a few residents have suggested we charge a nominal fee for the service, while others want us to totally fund it from existing sources. In any case, we will do our best to satisfy the public’s need to dispose of limbs and brush.”
http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/507317.html?nav=5104
What are your ideas? What are your puns?
Filed under: Uncategorized
I guess citizens should just throw their junk vegetation into the gutters…
I thougt the Mayor was all about homeowers taking care of their properties. He has made such an issue of this. So where do homeowners
go to take yard debris, as we aren’t allowed to
dispose of it in the garbage? Don’t get his thought process, no common sense in it.
Did I not read that some homeowners were including TRASH in their garden waste? Seems there is a monkey in everyone’s woodpile.
While I side with Joe and Common, I can also applaud the mayor taking a strong-hand against such abuse.
Actually, anonymous, I have used the facility for years and never seen the abuses of waste being dumped there. However, I have seen in the past that landscapers used the facility and it was sanctioned. I say we should allow those landscapers to use it with a license that they would purchase. As to what will happen to the leaves, I think this will lead to another fee for pickup service.
I happen to be an “expert” on this issue from past employment.
Some towns have limited yard waste removal, like after a big storm they come get the tree branches, but require owners to compost their own yard clippings. In Port Clinton, a city area compost is used for the large debris, though people take their regular trash out there as well causing a big problem. Port Clinton has a city wide trash pick up from one company, instead of the free-for-all in Tiffin.
For those of you not familiar, grass in a landfill can, and often does, generate so much heat, the landfill catches on fire. That is why landfills should not accept it.
As a homeowner it is wonderful to be able to take brush and leaves to the city for disposal. Unless you have a cousin in the country where you can dump it, what is a person to do with the tree limbs that fall or are trimmed?
Maybe we should all have those little backyard firepits and cut our branches into little pieces and have a hot dog roast.
I’ve used the Tiffin site numerous times and have never seen anything in the piles that doesn’t belong.
I’d suggest that the Mayor post a big sign saying that the city has a camera watching and have an employee review it regularly to see that nothing illegal is being disposed of and that no out of towner (or contractor) is using the facility. A couple of cameras and a couple of signs would do it.
Mayor Boroff has an extensive column in today’s A-T, and it appears that he is trying to take a common sense approach. He’s not saying “never,” but rather trying to fix the financing.
I would retract my earlier snarky comment if I could. Hope the mayor is successful.
The information in the column has magically appeared, and thanks for the heads up.
Is “May” Boroff Jim’s sister, mother or aunt? And, are we allowed to talk about “May” Boroff in July?
Apparently this ol’ dog is a little slow, Joe. What are you talking about?
May, June, October Boroff… what’s the difference?
If you have seen ONE Boroff, you have seen them all! The Mayor is a nice guy.
The post says: “Today this appeared in the A-T under opinion from May Boroff:” … about half-way down the post.
If I recall correctly, May was his great aunt, once-removed.
The blog may-or may not be referring to Boroff.
Good heavens, I am slow today. Better go back to my doghouse. Please allow me to change the post from May to MAYOR. (Sometimes I fat-paw the keys.)
TREE CITY USA…. Just you figure out what to do with your leaves and brush that accumulate. City hall will get a nice Sign to display…..It is so simple.. How about a 1 year, $50 fee with a window decal that only City Residents could purchase to drop off brush and leaves (no grass clippings, oh no ! couldn’t keep them in a seperate area) Commercial haulers pay $200.
Otherwise look out City parks, River Road, farmers lanes and ditches all over the county for the dumping will begin…….. Makes sense, one of the best things Tiffin has done in a long time and now they want to stop it….. Maybe they can hire someone to drive around and ticket people for having brush piles in their yards….
Does anyone know how the three young bucks on council feel about this issue? The A-T seems to like them and did a nice piece on the three.
Hey something stinks, I encourage all to take a drive down by the river banks up north and observe the secret dumping areas. They are hidden drives into the river bank that are littered with garbage or construction refuse.
I have seen it. Take a canoe trip from Tiffin to Old Fort and you will be shocked …. It is sad !
Mossad - I know that Mr. Montz is gathering information at this point. At the top of the blog is a page titled Tiffin City Council Info. I would encourage everyone who is interested to contact their council person. I know they read the blog.
Sen and Somethingstinks - I agree that their are many secret dumping areas. Most people don’t see it, but it is awful.
Scout: Thanks for the information, if you get any more please post it. I have used the leaf disposal service for as long as I can remember. We pay one of the highest municipal taxes of any city around here. I’m a man who wants bang for his buck and I certainly do not feel like we are getting it here. I was a big fan of Boroff BEFORE he became Mayor, now I wish Mr. Montz had run against him as he orginally announced back in ‘07. Boroff is talking about “substantial” increases to our sewer bills now. Raise the taxes while we cut the services . . . just doesn’t add up. Try the math.
Ain’t dat the way politics work?
I wonder if grant money is available to run the facility? I have spoken to quite a few people who all want the facility to remain open. Not one said close it.
Mossad - I agree with the high taxes and bang for your buck. I think that in the great scheme of things, $10,000 - $15,000 is not much to ask from the city to use our money wisely and foot the bill without putting another burden on the taxpayers. I am sure if they line by line the budget they will find that and more in waste.
Citizens pay taxes and expect reasonable services such as Police & Fire, Water and Sewer, Street Dept. services and other stuff for the high amounts that are coming out of our checks.
The sticker idea is a good one. Set a camera up at the gate and have the tape reviewed everyday. No sticker on a car then the license plate is given to the PD and a citation issued to that person. Landscapers and out of town people are charged a reasonable rate and those fees are taken from the $10,000 - $15,000 that the Mayor says it costs every year to run the brush operation. If it lowers it then fine but if not then at what point do we have to have every service a break even or make money operation. Gov’t is not a money making venture so we expect to lose money on certain things. Just be good stewards and marshal the money to the right services and cut out the frills and waste.
Amen, get!
I see the facility will stay open for at least another year and that the mayor is going to propose a fee plan. I would like to believe he or our councilmen read the blog and it played a role in their decision not to close it in a few weeks. The sketchy details in the AT as to the mayor’s plan for fees however don’t sound very good either. I think in one part he proposes a per bag fee and then a truck load fee. Well, what happens if you deliver a truck full of bags that you tear open anyway. It didn’t seem very realistic or fair and frankly show that he has no idea of how the facility is used by the citizens.