Politics & Government

Oak Creek May Trash Recycling Fee

But hours for recycling yard would be cut under proposal.

Oak Creek aldermen and Street Department employees have heard residents loud and clear: the community is not a fan of a new recycling fee implemented this year.

So when city leaders drew up the preliminary 2012 budget proposal, the $2 daily fee and $25 annual fee to use the recycling yard was axed.

"Being responsive to the community ... we would eliminate that fee that has tended to be a thorn in the side of folks," City Administrator Gerald Peterson said.

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But there's a catch.

Since the roughly $75,000 in revenue the fee was projected to generate would be gone, the city would cut the yard's hours. Under the proposal, the , 720 W. Puetz Road, would only be open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

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"(Residents) have to recognize there's going to be a service reduction," Peterson said. "That's the trade-off for elimination of fees."

Many officials acknowledged that the anger over the recycling fee would simply shift into anger over the yard's hours.

But that's all part of the joy - err, job - of working in city government.

"You're going to get people saying, 'Well, why isn't it open on Monday because I like to dump my garbage on Monday,'" Mayor Dick Bolender said. "You're not going to please everybody."

Added Peterson, "What's changed between last year and this year? Absolutely nothing. We still have the same problem. So rather than doing it on a revenue basis (generating $75,000) we should be able to reduce cost, something like $80,000. We've done it on the expense side as opposed to the revenue side. So it's the same issue that's being addressed a little bit differently, and we'll see whether that's any more palatable."

The fees' troubled first year

The new probably generated the most reaction out of any item in the city's 2011 budget.

Essentially, the measure was originally proposed to maintain services while not raising property taxes.

But Street Department Superintendent Mike Lampe said the anger over the fees has not subsided over the last several months and it will likely get worse as residents rake leaves from city of Oak Creek trees. That has been one of the biggest sticking points for homeowners, he said.

"Everybody throws at me constantly, 'These are city trees, why are we having to pay two dollars to come to the yard to get rid of your leaves from your trees?" Lampe said.

Alderman Dan Jakubczyk said the issue was among the biggest complaints he heard while running for re-election last spring.

"Let me tell you, I got beat up quite a bit about the fees. I still have some of the scars from that," he said.

Not done yet

Residents still have plenty of time to make their voices heard to elected officials before a decision is finalized. Check out the city directory for contact information for the aldermen, mayor and other Oak Creek leaders.Β 

A public hearing will be held later this fall before a budget is officially adopted in November.


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