Garbage fee increase to expire with firefighter labor agreement
• News and notes from the Oct. 13 Rockford City Council meeting
By Stuart R. Wahlin
Staff Writer
After a one-week layover, the Rockford City Council voted 8-5 Oct. 13 in favor of a garbage fee increase meant to free up money for the city and save jobs.
The administration has warned dozens of layoffs would result if the fee is not raised.
If given final approval by aldermen Oct. 19, the garbage collection charge for residents will increase from $11.20 per month to $14.20, effective Jan. 1.
Until now, the city has picked up the $3 difference, but expects to save about $1.8 million annually by discontinuing the subsidy. That $1.8 million, city leaders say, will avert layoffs of public safety personnel.
The rate hike may only be temporary, however. After an amendment by Ald. Venita Hervey (D-5), the rate increase would expire in two years—when a proposed agreement with city firefighters would also run out.
Aldermen will now consider approval of a tentative agreement ratified by the city’s firefighter union. The deal includes a two-year wage freeze, and Mayor Larry Morrissey (I) said he hopes similar agreements will be reached with the police and municipal employee unions.
Aldermen Joe Sosnowski (R-1), Carl Wasco (D-4), Lenny Jacobson (D-6), Frank Beach (R-10) and Linda McNeely (D-13) voted “no.”
Ordinances
The council gave its final approval for a 3-percentage-point water fee increase, effective Dec. 1. The increase is a result of the city’s ongoing $75 million water system upgrades. Aldermen Jacobson and McNeely voted “no.”
Aldermen also approved a $33,668.82 Community Development Block Grant agreement with Crusaders Central Clinic Association for relocation of utility poles and lines at Crusader Clinic’s facility at 1100 Broadway.
Aldermen passed committee reports recommending:
• Schlichting & Sons be awarded a $110,686 bid for a water-main at Illini Court and Santa Monica Drive.
• Northern Illinois Service be awarded a $246,353.45 bid for a water-main at Harvard Avenue.
• Sjostrom & Sons be awarded up to $334,000 for water operations lab and office remodeling.
• Scandroli Construction be awarded up to $2,511,780 for water treatment improvements as part of the city’s ongoing water system rehabilitation.
• Loves Park-based William Charles Construction, formerly Rockford Blacktop, be awarded a $67,356.60 bid for re-striping and repairs along Kishwaukee Street.
• McMahon Associates, Inc., be awarded up to $97,000 for construction field services for the zone control valve project related to the water system rehabilitation.
• MWH Americas, Inc., of Broomfield, Colo., be awarded up to $242,818 for construction management and startup services related to the water system rehabilitation’s zone control valve project.
• AJ Morley and ADV Enterprise be awarded contracts for snow removal at a rate of approximately $46 per hour.
Proclamations
The week of Oct. 12 was proclaimed Orchid-Third-College-Union Neighborhood Association Week.
Oct. 18 was proclaimed Crop Hunger Walk Day.
The week of Oct. 13 was proclaimed Matt Polnow Week to honor the letter carrier who rescued a disabled woman from a burning vehicle involved in a traffic accident.
Oct. 17 was proclaimed Goodwill Share a Smile Day.
Absence
Ald. Bill Robertson (I-14) was absent as he recovers from surgery.
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One Comment
The City of Rockford picked up the $3, they can put it back down!
The city is in a bargaining position here! All the city needs to do it remove the trash and leaf burnings in the city. With that, the city can just not renew the contract for waste removal and recycling. Garbage is burned in my neighborhood anyway, and always has been! Remove the garbage fees from my property. I don’t need 4 trucks going up and down my street all day just to forget mine until I call.
You see, it was a deal the city had with the trash collectors that forced us to stop burning. We like to think it’s because of some air quality or health issue but it’s not.
The mandatory trash pick-up I must pay for has not eliminated the illegal dumping, even in the city!
What is neat is that the fee billing has changed so it does not seem like we are getting raped. Monthly billing is less per month so you can remember how the bill used to be 30 bucks, and be happy it’s now only $14. People are stupid, and we need to wake them up!
Once a week removal of residential bagged, boxed or tied garbage should be $60 per year as a subscription service. If you don’t make garbage you should not pay for garbage pick-up. There are a lot of empty homes that are getting charged for garbage pick-up and their homes getting leans placed on them for garbage pick-up they do not need or use!
If you have recyclables, you just need to put your stuff on the curb, and it will be taken away free once per month because the collectors make money on these recyclables.
Te idea that we have to pay for recyclables to be picked up is stupid! That’s why I put everything in a bag! Let THEM sort it out, since I have to pay for it anyway!
Bulk pick-up should be another Subscription option.
Why should we all pay for bulk pick-up when we all do not use it?
It has not cut down on dumping, but has made those garbage piled in front of abandoned homes a constant sight!
Bulk garbage pick-up costs would be what the market will bear. I have yet to use the bulk services. When I have a washer or dryer on the curb it just goes away! It’s valuable to someone!
It’s time to stop doing a lot of things we do as a city and a captured people of that city.
If you don’t want to dig a well, and want running water from the city, you should pay the city.
If you don’t have enough property to burn and burry your garbage or you don’t have a farm you can use, you should pay the city.
If you have an alarm in your home and expect city police to come to your aid instead of your neighbors, you should pay the city.
If you do not want to or cannot dig a septic tank for sewage, you should pay for city sewer.
If you are not a member of or a huge supporter of the Volunteer Fire Department in your area, and you the help your neighbors cannot provide from the city, you should pay!
We need to get back to where I don’t have to pay for what you want if I don’t choose to!
We don’t need rude people at city hall telling me that because I paid $32.24 instead of $32.44 my water has been turned off and I need to pay a deposit and turn on fee with other charges before I can take a shower from a hard days work.
There is no reason we need to pay the city for its home projects/programs for those who don’t make enough money to live in a home but choose to have babies! I have a church for my good will. I don’t need a tax bill for it! If I don’t desire to pay for it I should not need to!
There is so much! It needs to end!
It’s not the $3.00. It’s the whole system! It’s time for the CHANGE I heard about as my family stood outside chanting ‘bamma, ‘bamma, ‘bamma! Mmmm, Mmmm, Mmmm!