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Thursday, December 27, 2007 12:23 AM CST
Got mulch? City launches new program to get rid of the stuff
By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com
MATTOON —City Hall would like to bury the best-kept secret in town: Mulch is free at the yard waste site at Logan and Shelby.
For years, the city has paid to haul away the black and brown mountains generated from grinding limbs, grass clippings, leaves and other fare from nature’s refuse bounty. On Wednesday, the Mattoon Public Works Advisory Board voted to reject bids on yard waste hauling under a new strategy to encourage Mattoon residents or local landscapers to scoop up the mulch surplus.
“We want citizens to get it, or landscapers. And we want to make it easier for them to do it, too,” said public works Director Dave Wortman.
So in March, the city will make mulch collection user-friendly. That might involve having city workers or equipment available on given days for helping load mulch, Wortman said.
“We spend $40,000 to $45,000 per year to get rid of the yard waste. So this is worth a try,” he told advisory board members Wednesday night.
He admitted residents might not clean out the yard waste during mulching season in the spring. He plans to maintain a relationship with people interested in bulk amounts of yard waste material.
“That could be our backup,” Wortman said.
In other business, the advisory board recommended a sump pump ordinance designed to stop excessive discharge of water on public right of ways, especially curbs and gutters. The ordinance, which includes a potential fine of $500 per day, would only apply to chronic cases, Wortman said.
Sump pumps are mechanical devices used to remove water or liquid collected in a sump, usually below basement floor level.
“This would be complaint-driven. If someone has their sump pump going two or three times per year during heavy rains, that is not really a problem. We’re talking about chronic cases where the pumps are running year round and causing algae to build up or ice to form,” Wortman explained.
Residents and business owners with problem discharges would have six months to correct the problem before penalties would apply.
The council also rejected sewer camera truck bids accepted earlier in the fall. Wortman said he wants to re-evaluate the bids. The camera system would use cable-video systems to detect problems in sewer lines in the city. Charleston maintains a similar system and Mattoon has a sharing agreement, but it was pointed out that Charleston regularly uses its sewer camera system.
Board Chairman Merle Lowry also offered a motion to congratulate Wortman on his efforts in the city’s successful FutureGen Alliance power plant bid. Other board members agreed and noted Wortman was a key member of the FutureGen team for Coles County.
Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.
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