Council OKs trash guidelines

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SIDNEY — Sidney City Council adopted an ordinance regulating the placement of solid waste collection containers during Monday night’s council meeting.

The ordinance passed with a 4-1 vote; Councilman Steve Wagner voted no, and Vice Mayor Mardie Milligan and Councilman Ed Hamaker were absent.

Prior to the vote, Mayor Mike Barhorst offered a couple of suggestions he received from citizens for changing the set-out time the evening before collection day to after 7 p.m, and also to consider changing the set-back from 25-feet to 10-feet for containers not stored in an enclosed structure or behind the front line of the house. Wagner said he had an issue with the required 25-foot set back, but said he would agree to vote for the 10-foot set-back. Ultimately, the consensus of the vote was to keep the original set-out time of noon the previous day and the 25-foot set-back brought forth in the ordinance.

The regulations for the placement of solid waste collection containers are as follows:

• Cans must be set out by 7 a.m. on pick up days, but not earlier than noon the day before, and must be removed by noon the following day.

• Cans must be stored in an enclosed structure, or behind the front building line of the house and screened from view of the street. If the residence has less than a two car garage and proper screening is not possible, the containers shall be placed in the rear or side yards at least 25 feet from the front set back of the house with lids closed at all times.

• Containers must not be visible from the street except on collection day.

• Public Works Director can approve a variance to the standards based on topographic hardship.

• Solid waste contractors and/or code enforcement will be responsible for enforcement.

• Penalty of minor misdemeanor.

A briefing was given to council on the Wagner Ware building hazardous substances removal action project by Steve Renninger, the on-site coordinator of the Emergency Response Branch of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).

Renninger said substances removal from the building, located at 440 Fair Road, will take approximately three months to complete. He informed council that during the week of July 25, the USEPA plans to begin barricading the building’s parking lot to prevent cars from parking and to keep kids from playing there, and asked the city for help cuting back overgrown vegetation to allow better access to the site. Also during this week, the Sidney Fire Department will be issuing notices to adjacent neighbors of the building about what will be happening at the location over the next few months that will begin within the next couple of weeks.

Renninger said the USEPA’s budget for the project is $400,000, but it does not include demolition of the building. The USEPA will be working on-site from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and otherwise, on off hours and weekends, it will provide private security to keep trespassers out. He will posting weekly reports at www.epaosc.org/wagnerwaresite.

Council also adopted an ordinance amending the city’s traffic control map included traffic controls within the Plum Ridge subdivision, new traffic signals at Vandemark and Industrial Drive and Fair Road and the Interstate 75 northbound exit ramp.

In addition, Council adopted four resolutions:

• The designation of Poggemeyer Design Group Inc. as the city’s Local Public Agency (LPA) for matters pertaining to the Home Investment Partnership Program and the Sidney/Shelby County PY (program year) 2015 Community Housing Impact and Preservation Program.

• The ratification of an agreement to purchase approximately 11.5 acres of land for use of a future capital improvement project which allows the property previously negotiated by the city manager to proceed to closing.

• The authorization of a warrant in payment due to be paid to a vendor of the city for the purchase of land for a future third fire station at 2401 Wapaloneta Ave. in the amount of $287,250, and $11, 117.50 for 10 sets bunker gear for the fire department.

• The approval of the Electro-Controls replat of three parcels to create one new lot located at 1625 Ferguson Court in the general industrial district.

In other business, there was a discussion on Paint the Town membership updates and the Civil War weekend park hours.

Community Services Director Barbara Dulworth recommended any donor who donates at least three percent of the annual city budget for the Paint the Town program should automatically become a committee member for the year. She also recommended that due to the vast size of the committee, a provision should be included specifying a certain number of members to constitute a quorum capable of reviewing and awarding funds, rather than the necessary simple majority. Barhorst asked her to bring something back in writing for council to consider at the next meeting.

A discussion also ensued for council to consider suspending Tawawa Park’s hours for pedestrians and vehicular traffic and the noise ordinance for the Civil War Living History Weekend on Sept. 17 and 18 after the request was submitted by Shelby County Historical Society Executive Director Tilda Phlipot.

Phlipot said she expects 300 reenactors to attend the inaugural biennial event that will have vendors or “settlers” selling authentic products, an educational tent, limited food trucks, and transportation available back to the battle area for the elderly and handicapped despite the traffic limitations. Also people in the area should be aware it will sound like a real battle going on when the actors are reenacting the Civil War, because it will be loud, but although the guns will be going off, nothing will be in them.

City Manager Mark Cundiff said he has the authority to suspend the noise ordinance during the event, and Barhorst said because the city is trying to increase tourism with something new, it “makes sense that we make this as convenience as possible.” Council will review something prepared at the next meeting on the matter.

Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Gary Clough informed council that he is keeping a vigilant eye on the city’s water levels and although is has been dry, the city is “doing okay.” He said the city’s water project, which will be the city’s primary water source, is still on target to be in place by next spring.

By Sheryl Roadcap

[email protected]

Reach the writer at 937-538-4823.

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