Stieglitz, Karl, Ltr. Garbage PPage 1 of 2
Susan Gwiasda
From:"Karl Stieglitz" <kcstieg@mchsi.com>
To:<sgwiasda@cityofdubuque.org>
Sent:Friday, August 30, 2002 8:46 PM
Subject:New Garbarge Pickup Program
Dubuque City Council,
It is with some dismay that I read the particulars of the new Refuse
Disposal Program. While I'm all in favor of recycling and already do my
(our) part with this on a regular weekly basis, I would like to register a
complaint regarding the increase in fees. If my math is correct, the old
rate prior to July was less than $8.00 per month and allowed for pickup of 2
containers plus the recycling bin. Now with the new program, if I'm going
to receive the same level of service, it will now cost $12.53 per month.
This is an increase of more than 60%. This is obviously substantially more
than any increase that would be necessary to compensate for increases in the
cost of living. In essence this is an increase in our local tax rate. And,
this is in addition to the increases noted on our property my bill for the
current year (about 7% up from last year's property tax bill).
I would also take issue with the manner in which this has been presented to
the local residents and subsequently implemented. Was there even one small
attempt made to challenge the so-called state mandate involving the PAYT
Program. If the state wanted to require participation in a PAYT Program,
then the state should have been the one to pay for the program or we shouldn
t have it. It is wrong to think that this cost would just be passed along
to the local tax payer.
In addition, it would have been much more honest to raise the rate to the
$12.53 per month for the regular rate while allowing for an opt out for 1
can only to $7.20 per month for those wishing to save on their monthly
utility bill. A much better approach to increasing the level of recycling
participation would have been to enforce the requirement to participate. I
know for a fact that there are many, many Dubuque homeowners who do very
little recycling. As a result, this feels like a major slap in the face to
people like ourselves who already do substantial recycling (We currently
separate out paper and cardboard, wash out and crush steel cans, wash out
and crush milk cartons, sort plastics and glass, etc.) The amount of
increase in the cost of the same basic service is truly excessive.
You made mention that your customers were desiring ways to decrease their
costs. Well, I know for a fact that no one from the city has ever solicited
my opinion on the matter. Thank you for your consideration.
Karl Stieglitz
533 Lowell St.
Dubuque, IA 52001
09/03/2002