[Durham INC] Yard Waste Carts

[Myers Sugg]

John/John:

So if I decide to pay a yard service to take care of my yard, and remove all yard waste from my site, I can’t unsubscribe to the program?  I missed that in my quick read.  I think this may boil down to a reduction in funding for solid waste, or a program that costs more.  The explanation though leaves big holes in it.  If the cost is really $90 per year to run the program, then that is what they need to say, and explain why.  If $90 is more than I can or want to pay, then I should be able to leave the program should I want to.   Again, I’m appreciative the City offers this program, but unlike water and sewer requirements for healthy and safety reasons, I can’t see yard waste removal rising to that level of importance.   I personally would be ok with less frequent collection if it would save any money.

I would also expect rental fees to be accounted for separately internally.  Co-mingling of the service fee and rental fee should not be allowed.

Myers


Myers Sugg
Financial Analyst
Fuqua School of Business
Duke University
Box 90120
Durham NC  27708
919-660-8018
919-660-7960

From: John Martin [mailto:bulldurhamnc at yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 2:16 PM
To: Myers Sugg; 'inc-list at lists.deltaforce.net'
Subject: Re: [Durham INC] Yard Waste Carts

Myers,

There was a fair amount of chatter about this on the Old North Durham list serve on Saturday since a number of us got the letter then.  You will also notice that you are no longer allowed to discontinue your participation in the program.

Councilman Eugene Brown said that he is looking into this with the City Manager.  We'll see what they say.  I doubt that any of this is legal.

John

From: "Jackson jacksonsmom at nc.rr.com<mailto:jacksonsmom at nc.rr.com> [oldnorthdurham]" <oldnorthdurham at yahoogroups.com<mailto:oldnorthdurham at yahoogroups.com>>
Date: May 23, 2015 at 6:17:43 PM EDT
To: "oldnorthdurham at yahoogroups.com<mailto:oldnorthdurham at yahoogroups.com>" <oldnorthdurham at yahoogroups.com<mailto:oldnorthdurham at yahoogroups.com>>
Subject: Re: [oldnorthdurham] Yard Waste Letter
Reply-To: oldnorthdurham at yahoogroups.com<mailto:oldnorthdurham at yahoogroups.com>

Thank you so much. I am still sitting here trying to understand the logic behind this. How is it we have bought the thing many times over and now we have to RENT it??
I don't get it.
Robin on West Seeman.

Sent from my iPhone

On May 23, 2015, at 6:10 PM, "Eugene Brown teton at earthlink.net<mailto:teton at earthlink.net> [oldnorthdurham]" <oldnorthdurham at yahoogroups.com<mailto:oldnorthdurham at yahoogroups.com>> wrote:

I am looking into this with the City Manager. Eugene Brown
On May 23, 2015, at 2:05 PM, John Martin bulldurhamnc at yahoo.com<mailto:bulldurhamnc at yahoo.com> [oldnorthdurham] <oldnorthdurham at yahoogroups.com<mailto:oldnorthdurham at yahoogroups.com>> wrote:



Nancy,

I got the same letter this morning.  In addition to charging me rent on something I already own, the City also announces that the Yard Waste Program is like the roach motel:  you can't check out:  "Please note that cancellation of yard waste service is only allowed for customers who are moving and no longer need the service and customers closing their utility water account."  So now I have to continue to have yard waste service whether I want it or not, and whether I use it or not.

I bought my yard waste container back in 1998, but I hadn't used the service for several years.  Last summer, since I anticipated more yard waste than normal, I signed up again.  Little did I know that I had signed up in perpetuity.

This is a small matter, but it is mind-boggling that the City of Durham government can even devise a scheme like this.

John

________________________________
From: "Nancy Holliman nkholliman at gmail.com<mailto:nkholliman at gmail.com> [oldnorthdurham]" <oldnorthdurham at yahoogroups.com<mailto:oldnorthdurham at yahoogroups.com>>
To: OND NA <oldnorthdurham at yahoogroups.com<mailto:oldnorthdurham at yahoogroups.com>>
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2015 1:39 PM
Subject: [oldnorthdurham] Yard Waste Letter


Hi neighbors,

I'm assuming any of you who are solid waste customers of the City have or will receive the letter we just got. In it it informs us that "Effective July 1, all carts now have a monthly rental fee regardless of past purchase history." So that means that we get to now pay a rental fee for carts that we previously purchased from the City. Excuse my acronym, but wtf?

I see on their FAQ that they are expecting carts to need to be replaced, as 2008 was the last time carts were available for purchase. Well I believe that our cart has a few years left in it, and it burns me up to rent what we own.

Does anyone know if this change is something approved by the city manager? City council? Who decides this?

Thanks for any info you may have.
Nancy Holliman
W. Lynch St.







________________________________
From: Myers Sugg <andrew.sugg at duke.edu<mailto:andrew.sugg at duke.edu>>
To: "'inc-list at lists.deltaforce.net'" <inc-list at lists.deltaforce.net<mailto:inc-list at lists.deltaforce.net>>
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 2:03 PM
Subject: [Durham INC] Yard Waste Carts

Dear Neighbors:
You may have received the letter today from Donald Long, Solid Waste Director regarding changes in the City’s Yard Waste program.  One thing in particular caught my attention.  Longtime residents may have, like me, purchased brown yard waste carts back when the City started the brown cart, weekly pickup program, ten plus years ago.  The City is now converting everyone to the rental program, and charging an additional $1.50 per month, per cart even for those who purchased their cart outright.  I personally don't think this is fair.  As I understand it, new customers are required to rent their carts, but for those who started early, you paid, and now you will be required to pay rent for the same plastic bin.  IF rental is the only option, then I think a refund should be in order for those who previously paid.  If I remember correctly, carts were around $50-$60 each, but I'm not certain.  If anyone can remember what the purchase rate was previously, please let me know.
I am of the opinion that composting is best, but for those who have small yards, and large limbs/sticks, it is not always easy to find a place for them.  I appreciate the robust yard waste program the City has.  When it started, collection was every other week, and the fee was rolled into your property tax rate.  The City pulled it out the tax rate and began the fee for service sticker/subscriber program.  Initially it was $50, then $60, and now it will basically be $90 per year.  That's a significant amount in my opinion.  I own 3 carts, and as such, I would pay an additional $54.00 per year to rent something I already purchased.  Does anyone else see the problem here?
Comments would be appreciated.  Hopefully someone at the City will also see this and offer some insight.
Myers Sugg
James St
TLNA

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