It appears that Indianola city leaders are finally getting on the same page when it comes to pushing its trash contractor to resume picking up yard waste.
Ward 3 Alderman Ruben Woods has been saying for months that Arrow Disposal Services Inc. has consistently failed to collect yard waste.
We have said this as well, but our cries had fallen on deaf ears.
Back in March, The Enterprise-Tocsin even printed the city’s ordinance as it pertains to yard waste, as well as the section of its contract with ADSI that addresses the same refuse.
During a special called meeting last Thursday night, a discussion was had about the contract with ADSI.
When the mayor and board were quizzed about why the company had failed to live up to its requirements, Mayor Ken Featherstone said that ADSI was suffering from equipment failure, much like public works.
The only difference is that public works is not being paid to pick up yard waste.
The city’s taxpayers should be outraged that they have been paying for this service for so long without receiving it.
We do want to say that, on the whole, Arrow has been a reliable waste management operation when it comes to picking up household garbage on a weekly basis.
While we sympathize with Arrow’s plight to maintain equipment, control costs and find qualified labor to run their trucks, it is that company’s responsibility to make sure that this city’s yard waste is collected, and it is the mayor and board’s responsibility to see to it that is happening.
In section 1.02 of the city’s contract with Arrow, “Bulky Waste” is defined as “Stoves, refrigerators, water tanks, washing machines, furniture and other similar discarded items…These items must be no heavier than what two employees can reasonably handle in placement with the collection vehicle.”
Further, in section 3.01, it states, “The Contractor shall provide curbside collection service for the collection of Residential Refuse, plus Yard Waste and Bulky Waste at each Residential Unit one (1) time per week.”
Below is the ordinance about Yard Waste.
Sec. 44-38. - Yard waste.
modified
(a)Tree trimmings, shrubbery trimmings, leaves and other refuse of like quality may be placed on the curb or street shoulders for periodic pick up by the city garbage collector, provided such deposits do not constitute a hazard to traffic or drainage, or undue impediment to pedestrians.(b)All limbs of one inch to four inches in diameter shall be cut in lengths not to exceed six feet. All limbs in excess of four inches in diameter must be cut in lengths not to exceed three feet.(c)It shall be unlawful, however, for carpenters, contractors, plumbers, repairmen, tree surgeons, nursery and landscape contractors to place old lumber, roofing, concrete, brick, trees, tree parts, shrubbery clippings, or other such refuse along the streets and sidewalks, it being the duty of each contractor, carpenter plumber, repairman, tree surgeon or nursery or landscape contractor to haul away all rubbish and residue resulting from such work.
(Ord. of 7-28-1986, § 1(14-33); Ord. of 5-8-2017)
Meanwhile, the neglect of yard waste has led to a pileup of filth across the city, and the taxpayers have been led to believe falsely that this is a function of public works.
We encourage the city to follow up on the suggestion made by Ward 1 Alderman Gary Fratesi last week and write a letter asking Arrow to fall into compliance and help to clean up this city.
Meanwhile, a dump site behind Turner’s Pawn on the banks of Indian Bayou that we featured on the front page of last week’s print edition has not been touched by the city.
Piles of tires and mattresses were still there as of press time this week.
We ask that someone arrange to have those large items picked up.
Be sure to join Indianola Chamber Main Street on Saturday, September 28 for a cleanup day in the downtown area of the city as we prepare for our October 5 Nola Arts Fest.
