Dumpsters or polycarts?
City commissioners continue discussion on residential trash regulations BIG RAPIDS — Don Jones is concerned that proposed garbage container regulations will cost him and other local landlords more money. Big Rapids City Commissioners discussed on Monday a proposed ordinance amendment that would phase out Dumpster use in residential areas within the city. The Department of [...]
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I find myself in agreement with my neighbor Mr. Jones.
If the issue actually is aesthetics then address that. With the reference about “neighbors” being banned from sharing a dumpster it leads me to suspect there may be more to this than the city is emphasizing. Why would the city be concerned if two neighboring properties combined to save costs? What is the connection between that concern and the expiring contract with Allied Waste?
We have had a rental property behind our house since we moved to Big Rapids over a decade ago that has always had a dumpster. It being there has never been an issue. Granted the previous landlord was not as diligent as the current owner and the dumpster frequently was overflowing and unsightly. That has not been the case nearly as often since the property was purchased and upgraded (the few exceptions I can recall have focused on the removal of debris as the building was dramatically upgraded – hardly something I considered a negative for our neighborhood or the city).
The problem has never been the dumpster being there. If you want to improve the aesthetics then address the overflow issue. I can’t imagine increasing the number of garbage cans lining the alley is going to suddenly make our alley more attractive.
As for the pool – if I am not mistaken our prices were increased slightly recently. I do not know about the other pools referenced in the article but comparing Big Rapids with the Aquatic Center in Holland is an apples and oranges comparison. Nothing against our outdoor pool but Holland’s is indoor, year round and has many amenities that we can not provide (diving boards, lap lanes, splash zone, water slide, hot tub…).
Frederic D. Byrne
If you want to increase aesthetics of the neighborhoods require property owners to actually “maintain” their homes. As we drive through the residential areas of Big Rapids, there are many houses that have cracked foundations, grass that is overgrown, need to be painted, broken walk ways, cracked windows, etc. I know that many of these are rentals but these houses make our town look bad. I really don’t think it is the dumpsters that are the problem. Big Rapids can pass an ordinance on the appearance of a home, whether it is a rental or not. Maybe it is time that the city focus on that?
Regarding the pool; if pool prices go too high in this economically depressed area, there will be not be many who will be able to use it. East Grand Rapids was one area that was quoted who had raised their prices. That is comparing apples and oranges. Before considering a price increase, look at the demographics of the kids and families who use the pool. Can they afford it? Do you want them swimming in the river? And no, I don’t use the pool.