City commission suggests changes in “Clean Up” event — and surprised at its $6,855 cost

 

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com   

Members of the city’s Public Works and Streets Commission won’t recommend that Yachats quit sponsoring its three-day “Clean Up” event each June.

But they expressed surprise Tuesday that what began as a shredding event years ago is now a free-for-all trash-dumping service that cost the city $6,855 this year.

“That kind of took my breath away,” commission member Ron Urban said of the cost – following a simpler discussion of what could be done to improve the event.

The commission oversees the event in which people are allowed to bring much of their household trash and yard debris to toss into city-rented Dumpsters in the ball field behind the 501 Building. But the event was over-run this year by organizational issues, fewer volunteers and people from all over Lincoln County getting rid of their trash.

Last month the commission outlined issues with the event – and came up with 17 possible improvements. One suggestion was to cancel it.

Commission chair Bob Bennett also asked City Manager Shannon Beaucaire what it cost.

Beaucaire said the city paid Dahl Disposal of Waldport $5,700 to use its Dumpsters and haul everything away – including a special Saturday afternoon trip when the main bin filled up – and spent another $1,155 in staff time.

No commission members Tuesday suggested cancelling the event.

But they said it could be improved by using signs declaring it was only for Yachats residents, advertising only in city publications, requiring a city coupon to drop off material, and moving the event to the middle of the week to discourage non-residents from participating. They also suggested to stop taking household trash and just accept yard waste, metal and other hard-to-dispose of items.

Ann Stott said it was her first year of volunteering and thought people would bring small amounts of junk that had been accumulating around their house.

“What I witnessed was way beyond that,” she said. “What I saw was way beyond cleaning up a little bit around your house.”

Bennett said recycling rules have changed and Dahl significantly raised its fees to dump material at its Waldport transfer station, so people take every opportunity to save a little money.

“What we wound up with was trash,” he said. “Now almost everything is trash … and I don’t think that works for me anymore.”

Tom Bedell asked if the event was worth $6,000 – especially when the city pays Dahl $7,000 a year to place a Dumpster for residential yard debris near the city shops.

“I see some benefit in this thing, but I don’t know if it’s worth the money,” he said.

Bennett said he would compile the group’s suggested changes, questions over cost and present it to the City Council.

“… it will be interesting taking this to council,” he said.