06-26-72 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 26, 1972 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) The meeting reconvened at 10:25 p.m. with the continuation of the public hearing. Mr. Joseph Guentert, 1034 Foster Street, spoke in opposition to the ordinances. He read a pre- pared statement regarding the problems of solid waste disposal and said that these ordinances are not the approach to take to solution of the problem. He recommended that the Council inves- tigate the possibility of recycling programs. He also stressed that the problem is caused by not enforcing trash and littering laws. Mrs. Odessa Brown, 230 N. Sadie Street, asked the Council to disregard these ordinances. She said that the Council should consider the welfare mothers and others who would find it a hard- ship to pay for trash hauling especially if it was put on their water bill. Mrs. Ann Wlodarski, 1869 Riverside Drive, presented a petition from members of the Fair Tax Association asking that the Council delete in their entirety the two trash ordinances. Mrs. Fanny Grunwald, 227 S. Frances Street, said that, as an All- American city, South Bend is noted for high taxes. She asked that the Council not pass the trash ordinances. Mrs. Conchita Washington introduced herself to the Council as the exonerated President of the local chapter of the N.A.A.C.P. She spoke in opposition to the Ordinances. She read a petition from the Consolidated Rubbish Corporation, a minority corporation, asking that the Council de- lete both ordinances. She said this is another case of minority group persons being hampered in their efforts to be self - supporting. These ordinances deny free enterprise and impose hard- ships on the citizens. The Consolidated Rubbish Corporation has an investment of $280,000 in equipment with 150 truck owners and over 400 employees. She said that if jobs are taken away from these people and their families you will have to support them and pay their rent. She said that the children of these families will be roaming the streets and there will be trouble. Mr. Robert Bell, 106 N. Michigan Street, spoke in opposition to the ordinances. He said he favor the free enterprise system. He said the independent trash haulers are local people doing a job in their city. He said he doesn't want the city in the trash pickup business. Mr. Earl Brown, 1230 Diamond Avenue, spoke against the ordinance. He said he knows it is a major problem to clean up the city of South Bend but he thinks the private haulers can do the job. He said the violators of trash and littering laws should be reported to the City Attorney and action should be taken against them. Mr. George Nicholas, 106 N. Michigan Street, spoke against the ordinances. He operates four restaurants in the area and prefers to contract with private haulers. He said municipal trash hauling in the City of Mishawaka, where he operates a business, has not been successful. Mrs. Mary Barbara, 750 N. Lawndale, spoke in opposition to the ordinances. She said that her husband is an independent trash hauler and that the major problem is dogs running loose who scatter the trash. She asked that the dog laws be enforced and that these ordinances be'defeated Mrs. Janet Allen, 125 W. Marion Street, opposed the ordinances. She said that the private enter- prise system is the best one and urged the Council to reject both ordinances and enforce the laws we have. Bernard White, Jr., 830 S. Wellington Street, spoke against the ordinances. He said that the city does not do a good job with garbage collection and asked that the ordinances on trash hauling be tabled. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, asked whether it was legal to put this trash hauling charge on the water bill. Deputy Attorney Laderer said that it was. Miss Guthrie said that those who can't or won't pay their water bills will result in the taxpayers paying the bills through welfare and assistance agencies. Mr. Robert Hostetler, 206 Jennings, spoke against the ordinances and said the city should stay out of the trash hauling business. Councilman Taylor said that because of the many comments and questions raised tonight he would move for the tabling of both ordinances until the July 24, 1972 regular meeting. Councilman Miller seconded the motion. Councilman Nemeth said that it was ironic that on the agenda tonight was an ordinance encouraging private enterprise by issuing revenue bonds for the Royal Inn project and at the same time stifling private enterprise in the matter of trash hauling. Councilman Parent said that the reason the Council is dealing with this problem is that the Councilmen get calls from citizens complaining about the problems with the present trash hauling system. The private system doesn't seem to be working and the city has a responsibility to make sure it has a clean, healthy environment. He said that with a Sanitation Department budget of $350,000 and with 40,000 households paying approximately $3.00 a month for trash removal, this amounts to about $1,800,000 a year. At the present time, there are two overlapping systems operating, with the city collection of garbage and the private trash hauling system and one system picking up everything would result in more efficiency. He said that he would like the Council to take six or seven months to work on these proposals. Councilman Miller said that he would like to see the private trash haulers solve the problems in the Southeast neighborhood at a cost of $2.00 a household. He said the situation there is atrocious and cannot be allowed to continue to exist. The question was called and the motion carried. There being no further business to be considered Newburn entertained a motion to rise and report seconded by Councilman Horvath. Motion carried. ATTEST: CLERK before the Committee of the Whole, Chairman to the Council, so moved by Councilman Taylor, Time 11:50 p.m. Councilman Miller moved for a 5 minute recess, seconded by Councilman Taylor. Motion carried. REGULAR MEETING - RECONVENED Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana reconvened in the Council Chambers of the County -City Building on Monday, June26, 1972 at 12 < :05 a.m., Council President Peter J. Nemeth presiding. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MINUTES Your committee on the inspection and supervision of minutes would respectfully report that they have inspected the minutes of the June 12, 1972 regular meeting and found them correct. They, therefore, recommend that the same be approved. /s/ Peter J. Nemeth /s/ Terry S. Miller Upon motion made by Councilman Parent, seconded by Councilman Serge, and carried, the report was accepted and placed on file.