From the Email InBox: DUMPSTER DAY REPORT

Dear Gramps Please Post This Good News Story:

Dumpster Day April 14, 2007 was a well attended event. The line started forming at 7:30 and soon there was a line of cars truck and even a few trailers. They contained old well used furniture, old washers, refrigerators, fans, yard trimming, chairs and all things that won’t fit into a 96 gl trash can. I wonder if the Staff will report on the strangest thing dumped. The Largest thing dumped. Dumpster Day Report could be made almost fun.

This service to the community is a great aid. It was well organized and attended. Of course it is always a great idea to review an activity and see how it could be improved.

Some people may have items to dispose of but have no way of getting them to the drop off point. Here is an opportunity for the Sports Teams to earn money. Perhaps the City and the Sports teams could coordinate resources. Parents and Citizens who own trucks could act as Curb Side Pick Up Service. The home owner would pre arrange for a Full or half Load to be picked up at the curb for a “Donation” to the Teams. The Pick Up Points being limited of course to Grand Terrace and if the city requires it… Perhaps the Sports Team Driver will check ID, and Keep a Pick Up Log to account for funds and data reporting.

For those delivering items in and on cars a neighborly assist by someone with a truck would have been most welcome.

PickUP and Deliver Service could be a challenge between teams and even Service Clubs for example the Lions, Women’s Club or perhaps even 4H and Church Youth Clubs could join in the aid in transporting the item from curb to Drop Off Point.

Well again, a well done event, people were all appreciative, and friendly. Perhaps this could be a quarterly event rather than bi-annual. When and IF he participation does not fill the containers, the number of events may be reduced to two a year. This is a event where the City Staff from Code Enforcement to Maintenance are able to be collaborators in the Citizens efforts to tend to the yards and homes. I think that if this was done more often and with curb pick up fund raising at the same time. The Code Enforcement Officer would be delivering good news to folks that need to trim this or that.

A letter saying, Here is the day, Here is the Time, Here is who to contact for the Pickup… This is specifically what needs to be done. Do you need any additional help. IF these notices went out 2 weeks prior to Dumpster Day, the home owners would be less overwhelmed, and the entire city could focus a couple of weeks 4 times a year on Pruning, Cleaning and Dumping Large Items.

A letter or communication like that would be much friendlier than the form letters filled with threats, non specific directions, and an already expired deadline that have stressed many of our older senior residents over the years.

If there is a way to make Code Enforcement a Friendlier Task, it may be worth trying it.. I am sure he Code Envorcement Officers would like to deminish the advasarial nature of the communication and task they are charged with. Perhaps the above would help in doing that.

It may also help if the Code Enforcement Officer aided residents in obtaining additional trash cans or on location dumpsters. Many homeowers do not know how to get this done. I don't.. Gramps perhaps you can find out who do you call to get a dumpster, more trash cans? Green Cans in paricular.

Well Done… Well Done…

Citizens who were up and Loaded Today and to the City Staff and Waste Management... Well Done...

Thanks

RR