[Speed Gibson,
Friday September 28, 2007 at 9:48pm]
Coon Rapids Beware
I heard on Jason Lewis that Coon Rapids wants to take the first step toward - what's the word, municipalization? - of trash hauling. The reasons aren't exactly clear, something about fewer trucks reducing wear and tear on the city streets.
Supposedly they want to do a one-city bid, and for all trash to be picked up the same day of the week throughout the city. Supposedly this solves some problem with snow plowing, too.
Coon Rapids residents should beware. Do you want your trash hauler working for you or the apparatchik at City Hall?
Robbinsdale went totally public when I lived there, meaning trash was hauled by City employees. It wasn't long before rationing began - only two "free" bags per week. Each additional bag required a cute sticker with a robin on it, available at City Hall for $1 each.
Worse, we soon found out that these City employees were also ex-officio code compliance officers. I received a curt letter from the city pointing out that the paint on my garage was peeling. I knew that, and was planning on repainting that spring. Of course, the weather didn't allow painting until May at the earliest. I called the City, asking why I was being accused of being my own slumlord so prematurely, but as is so typical, they couldn't have cared less.
The next year or two came another letter about a small pile of construction debris on my back yard, from a project in progress. It would have been, was in fact, gone two weeks later as planned. My complaint fell on the same unsympathetic, uncaring ear. I did find out however that both citations had come via reports from my city employee trash hauler. This was one of several reasons why we didn't buy our next house in Robbinsdale, nor ever will. It was a pleasure signing up for private trash hauling at the next house.
These days, in fact, there's a new threat, that they'll want to inspect your trash to see if you're recycling properly, don't have too much food waste, or appear to be consuming red meat and fois gras.
Is this what you want, good people of Coon Rapids?
Supposedly they want to do a one-city bid, and for all trash to be picked up the same day of the week throughout the city. Supposedly this solves some problem with snow plowing, too.
Coon Rapids residents should beware. Do you want your trash hauler working for you or the apparatchik at City Hall?
Robbinsdale went totally public when I lived there, meaning trash was hauled by City employees. It wasn't long before rationing began - only two "free" bags per week. Each additional bag required a cute sticker with a robin on it, available at City Hall for $1 each.
Worse, we soon found out that these City employees were also ex-officio code compliance officers. I received a curt letter from the city pointing out that the paint on my garage was peeling. I knew that, and was planning on repainting that spring. Of course, the weather didn't allow painting until May at the earliest. I called the City, asking why I was being accused of being my own slumlord so prematurely, but as is so typical, they couldn't have cared less.
The next year or two came another letter about a small pile of construction debris on my back yard, from a project in progress. It would have been, was in fact, gone two weeks later as planned. My complaint fell on the same unsympathetic, uncaring ear. I did find out however that both citations had come via reports from my city employee trash hauler. This was one of several reasons why we didn't buy our next house in Robbinsdale, nor ever will. It was a pleasure signing up for private trash hauling at the next house.
These days, in fact, there's a new threat, that they'll want to inspect your trash to see if you're recycling properly, don't have too much food waste, or appear to be consuming red meat and fois gras.
Is this what you want, good people of Coon Rapids?