Residents at Solid Waste meeting split on possible new roll cart storage ordinance

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Solid Waste held a meeting Thursday at City Hall to discuss potential requirements on roll cart storage.

Columbia Utilities spokesman Matt Nestors says the city is looking for the public's input on where exactly roll carts should be stored on noncollection days.

During a meeting regarding roll carts back in November, council members and citizens brought up concerns over the current ordinance, stating the language used in the ordinance was not specific enough.

The current ordinance states residents must place roll carts out on the curb no earlier than 4 p.m. the day before collection and must be put away from the curb onto private property by 10 p.m. on collection day.

However, there is no specific location given to residents on where on their private property the carts should be stored.

Nestor says the feedback gained from residents will be presented to the City Council who will have the final say.

"We will present that to council at a later date, and then it will be up to city council to decide whether or not they want to move forward," Nestor said.

Resident Chriss Jones said she doesn't support the city having an ordinance. Jones said that people with physical disabilities, like herself, may have trouble with having to walk a further distance to move their cart and that the city needs to acknowledge this. While Jones said she agrees that the carts should not be left on sidewalks for safety reasons, she doesn't see a need for the rule to specify where they must be stored.

"I don't think there should be an ordinance period. I think that people should be able to store them wherever fits best for their family, for their lifestyle," Jones said.

Resident Eugene Elkin shared the same sentiments, noting he was never in support of roll carts being approved in the city.

"Everyone has a different lifestyle, so everyone will have to have a different method of storage," Elkin said.

Jones said she also disagrees with the ordinance's specification of what time of day roll carts should be put out and removed. People work at different times of the day and may not be able to meet those time requirements, according to Jones which is another reason why she says she does not support it.

"We have a lot of people in the medical field and the social services who do work 24 hour shifts," Jones said. "We've also got a lot of people who have to go in and out of town for work and so it's going to be a lot harder for them."

Columbia resident Dan Viets said while he isn't in support of the city implementing roll carts due to their appearance, his main concern is that people will leave the carts on sidewalks. Viets believes they should be stored in a garage or backyard.

The ordinance needs to state that those who do not comply with that rule will be fined, according to Viets.

"I think the ordinance is totally inadequate," Viets said. "There should be stiff fines available people are required to go to court and pay a significant fine enough to deter that conduct."

Nestor said he's unsure of an exact date feedback will be presented to the City Council. He also added that the ordinance will no go into effect until March of next year. Due to this, Nestor said the ordinance could possibly be unresolved by the time roll carts are delivered to residents in February.

Back in March the city decided to switch to curbside trash pickup.

There are three roll cart sizes residents can choose from. A 35-gallon cart will cost $12.87 per month, a 65-gallon can costs $17.37 per month (current rate used by City customers), and it will cost $22.50 per month for a 95 gallon can.

Feedback can be submitted on Beheard.como.gov until Dec. 31.