Eureka Springs council amends trash ordinance

Eureka Springs residents will be able to put out more trash on a weekly basis moving forward for the foreseeable future.

At its regular meeting Monday, Oct. 14, the Eureka Springs City Council voted 4-2 to amend the city’s trash ordinance and allow residents to place two 35-gallon containers, or two bags of trash up to 35 gallons each, on the curb each week for trash collection.

The amendment changes a previously approved ordinance that set the limit at one 35-gallon container or one bag up to 35 gallons in size. Additional bags above the limit will require a bag tag, which residents can purchase at public works for $2 each. Anything placed on the curb in excess of the two-bag limit that doesn’t have a bag tag will not be picked up, the new ordinance stipulates.

The fees earned from selling bag tags will go into Carroll County Solid Waste’s recycling education program.

“We tell Carroll County Solid Waste what we want to do and that’s what this is about,” Mayor Butch Berry told council members. “Carroll County Solid Waste is responsible for picking up the garbage, doing the recycling, all that. All we’re doing is telling them, from now on, pick up two bags, or two containers. Otherwise, if there’s more than that, don’t unless there’s a tag on the bag…” Council member Terry McClung said using two 35-gallon containers will allow residents to put as many bags, or as much trash, as they can fit in the containers.

“I put two 33-gallon trash bags [in a 35-gallon container] and they fit fine,” McClung said.

The original ordinance called for one container or one bag as a way to encourage recycling. Council members said at the Oct. 14 meeting that feedback received was that one bag or one container wasn’t enough for some residences, specifically families, leading to the change.

Council member Steve Holifield, however, disagreed and voted against the measure, along with council member Susane Gruning.

“I spoke about this before and I’m going to speak up again,” Holifield said. “I think one 35-gallon is enough. I bought a 35-gallon can from Walmart and I can stuff three large kitchen trash bags in there. They don’t care how many in there as long as you get the lid on there. Berryville has been doing this for 12 years, the one 35-gallon, and their additional bag tag is $5, not $2. We have to remember what our motivation is here, it’s to encourage people to recycle. If they have to look at not stuffing cardboard and bottles and stuff into the trash can and put it into recycling to get down to the one 35-gallon bag, then that’s the purpose of it.

“I think if Berryville can do it, we can do it. It’s not a competition, but don’t we want to win? … I’m very proud of the city for being the best recycling city in Arkansas, and I think we still are. I think we should remain that, and I think, again, we should stick to just one bag.”

The ordinance is only for residential customers, council member Harry Meyer pointed out.

“It’s solely households,” he said.

The amended ordinance was approved on its first reading and then two additional readings by title only. The council then approved an emergency clause to make the ordinance effective immediately. All votes were 4-2 with Holifield and Gruning dissenting.

PARKS COMMISSION CHANGE

The council also approved the first reading of an ordinance that will allow an additional seat on the parks commission one that can be filled by someone living outside city limits.

Currently two of the seven seats can be filled by individuals living in the western district of the county. Parks director Sam Dudley requested that one more of the seven be an atlarge position, Berry cold council members.

“They have trouble getting a full membership body,” the mayor said. “Right now they have two members that are voted on from outside the city limits and they would like to amend it to have three from outside city limits.”

The move would still allow for proper representation of those who use the city’s parks, Berry said.

“People enjoy our parks from all over the county, not just inside the city,” he said. “So, felt like this was justifiable to have members from this side of the River.”

Council member David Avanzino agreed.

“Let’s be frank: Most of the people complaining about our parks don’t step up to be on the commission,” Avanzino said. “So, let’s open it up and get people who do want to be on the parks commission.”