Test

I personally don't get the "garbage amnesty" deal that Meyer (and you) came up with. That is exactly what the two "free" stickers were meant to cover. Here you go, micro managing again. The staff had come up with a solution for this time of year, but you had to butt in. What about the non-christens? Do they get amnesty on their “holiday”? The free stickers was the fairest why to take care of this problem. NO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR THIS?
 

make that

NOW HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR THIS?
 

I just wondered if the topic of the Saturday Farmer's Market traffic situation has ever come up. My husband and I go every Saturday and it is an accident waiting to happen. The problem is that both sides of the market are separated by an entrance in between and it is also full of pedestrian traffic. So you have people and kids trying to dodge cars, while cars are trying to enter and exit onto River Drive. Every time we're there we keep saying how it needs to be blocked off! Someone is going to get hit.

Thanks Shawn and Happy Holidays to you!
 

I agree. We love going to the farmer's outdoor market. Not only great veggies, food and crafts but a super social experience. A great place to chat with friends and also just people watch. A spectrum of folks from the poor to the ultra snooty.

Regarding the parking situation, there should be no public parking on market days between the ballpark street and the freight house. Currently, once you do make it in and find a parking spot, it takes forever to back out and try to leave because of the slow traffic and pedestrians. People should park in the lot under the bridge or East of the market and walk. Or another good idea might be for the city or venders group to provide a tram or two that are constantly moving through the lots and dropping folks off at the entrance to the market. The current situation with parking inside the site is indeed an accident waiting to happen.
 

Thanks for the discussion. I know the Farmer’s Market is ran independently and largely, it is up to the organizers to plan the layout and organize parking. I am unfamiliar with how the City can currently employ a change. I will bring your ideas up to the organizers and staff to see what I can do. Thanks for the suggestions. I will report what I find here.

In relation to the Free-Sticker Week for garbage pickup, I think we have to understand that there are many situations in our lives where we find ourselves with extra trash. Some of these are anniversaries, birthdays and the holidays we celebrate. I have spoken on this subject many times during this past year. I spoke on the $4 charger per sticker after a family uses up the first two they receive free and how I still believe this fee to be outrageous. In the event a family celebrated a birthday and used up their stickers they would be faced with a $12 charge to throw away three extra bags of trash during the Christmas Holiday. Our trash collection is intended to offer a service at a reasonable and appropriate price not as a cash-cow. In paying for it, I am sure we will see this presentation during the second cycle of the New Year. I wish all of you the best.

Shawn Hamerlinck
 

I know you don't like DEE B., but don't you listen to her? The reason the extra bag is $4 is to keep people from getting a container smaller than they need, just to pay the cheaper price. It's not to be a "cash cow" (like the speed/red light cameras are), it's to give people an incentive to get the correct size container. We pay for all this "staff" in the city, but some of you never listen to them. They are the experts, not a bunch of "what-to-be politicians".
 

Anonymous:

Give me a ring. I think you and I should sit down and go over together the revenue/cost of each container and service and how the revenue/cost of a $4 charger for extra bags fits in. We should also discuss what it means for Government to offer an "incentive" and use a fee to direct social behavior. You can reach me at 563-529-4657(Cell Phone) or 563-888-2070 (City Hall). I have some time over the next week before things start up again. I hope to hear from you.

Shawn Hamerlinck
 

If the person moves from a 65 gallon to a 95 gallon container and pays the additiona $4 PER MONTH, wouldn't that be cheaper than paying $4 or more per week for each bag? It isn't necessarily about controlling social behavior, it is about paying for what you use. You use more landfill because you don't want to recycle, fine, but don't make me pay for your laziness.
 

Shawn, You need to replay the meeting back to see it wasn't Ald Meyer but Matt NcDonnell who brought up the fact of a free garbage week, that is if you can pull your nose out of Lynn's butt.
 

Anonymous:

Again, interesting comments. Alderman Meyer and I had a conversation about this topic prior to the start of the meeting. Alderman Meyer and Mr. McDonnell spoke moments before the start of the meeting on this topic as well. What I am doing here is giving those credit who authored the move. If the credit should go to Mr. McDonnell, then thank you Mr. McDonnell.