ThisWeek CW 12/4/2014

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2014/12/01/extra-200-fee-targets-nuisance-trash-on-properties.html

Madison Township residents who don’t properly dispose of “nuisance trash” after two weeks could be assessed a $200 fee plus any special fees charged by the township’s waste hauler, according to new regulations approved by Madison Township trustees.

At the Nov. 19 meeting, trustees approved a change to the current trash assessment fee policy to allow the township to collect a fee of “$200 per assessment … for households with nuisance trash out for more than two weeks that are delinquent on their accounts and have been notified by Madison Township of (the) assessment and special pick-up fee.”

Under the newly approved legislation, besides the $200 assessment fee, property owners also will be liable for the hauler’s special pick-up fee, which can vary in cost, depending on the location and amount of trash.

“The old legislation left it up to the township to cover the cost of delinquent fees and pick-up costs, which we didn’t see as fair to the rest of our residents,” township Administrator Susan Brobst said. “The township will now be able to file a lien against the property to recoup those costs, if necessary.”

Resident Kim Jordan told trustees she was concerned about trash that had been left out on properties in the Blacklick Estates neighborhood.

“When I was driving around my neighborhood, I saw a couple of homes where the trash was left out and not being picked up,” Jordan said. “At the corner of Tyler and Newport was one where there’s trash just sitting out there, making the community look bad.”

Trustee Gary McDonald said he believed that property had been taken care of prior to the meeting, but asked that Jordan and other residents let the township know as soon as trash becomes a problem, instead of waiting for the monthly meetings, so crews can take care of it.

“Once those are called in, we can call them into Local Waste, and they’re quick to get out here,” McDonald said. “Some of what I’ve found as well, though, is that people are putting trash out a few days early or right after the pick-up day, due to some confusion.

“You’re right, it’s an eyesore, and this is something we take seriously,” he added.