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HARDSHIP POLICY — SOLID WASTE PICK-UP
Hardship Policy — Solid Waste Pick-up
This was a request to adopt a Hardship Policy for waiver of any ordinance
requirements for individuals who feel they are unable to utilize the cart system for
solid waste pick-up. Areas of consideration that weré addressed include.
Physical limitations
wpe
Low volume users
Fee deferral/waiver
The financial impact is minimal.
The staff recommended approval.
The Public Facilities Committee recommended approval.
The Service Committee recommended approval of the Hardship Policy as
presented for individuals who feel they are unable to utilize the cart system for
solid waste pick-up.
Jim Searer, 115 Emmett, Grand Haven, stated he had hoped that hardship would
include economic hardship.
Jerry Cetag, 2342 Apple, pointed out that tenants do not need as many containers
as is required, and volume should be the determinant.
Mayor Kruse stated this policy is intended to be flexible and could possibly be
modified over time.
Vice-Mayor Cunningham stated that he will vote for this Hardship Appeal Policy,
but strenuously objected to the language in Paragraphs four (4) and five (5).
Bob Kuhn gave a presentation.
Dee Scott, 2448 Estes Court, representing the Senior Citizens of Muskegon, asked
about the Policy and the Appeal process.
Max Bennum, 973 W. Forest Avenue, asked for further explanation.
Bob Kuhn gave more background and an explanation.
Vice-Mayor Cunningham said, “Although I am not extremely excited about the
cart system, I am supportive.” He stated that his questions in the past echoed
the
audiences’ concerns, then referred the audience to the first five limitations on
Appeal, and stressed the importance of the physician’s statement and “to note if
the limitations are permanent or temporary.” He acknowledged this
inconvenience, but contended that the physician’s statement should prove the
handicap. “For low volume users the cost is the same, so we need to monitor it,”
he said.
Mayor Kuse stated that low volume users aren’t going to save much.
PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS APPEAL
From time to time there may be requests from individuals who feel that they are
unable to utilize the cart system. Requests of this type shall make application for
a waiver utilizing the form to be available in the Sanitation Billing Office.
Requirements for submitting the request are as follows:
1. Applicant will state their limitation for physical handicap.
2. City will reserve the right to request a physician’s statement.
3 Applicant must state that there is no other person available to utilize the
cart.
Prior to being granted exemption from using the cart, the applicant must
try the cart for a designated amount of time. (this may be waived in
obvious cases)
City staff will interview applicant and make a determination.
CONTINUED
Ifthe application is approved:
6. The applicant will continue to pay the standard monthly fee for garbage
service.
7. The applicant will be issued an allotted amount of stickers which must be
affixed to their garbage. The stickers will be a different color than the
regular mixed refuse/bulk item stickers and they will be numbered. The
hauler will pick up only items with the stickers attached. The hauler will
have a list of each individual who has been put on this program. Ifthe
stickers are found on trash other than their own, the member will be
recorded and traced back to the individual. Proper action will be taken
against the individual.
8. Thee applicant shall agree to renew this request on an annual basis.
LOW VOLUME USERS
From time to time there may be requests from individuals who feel that they do not need
the 65-gallon volume allotted to them under the current system. Requests of this type
will be recorded.
City staff will evaluate the future possibility of a smaller cart or any other suitable
mechanism to satisfy the low volume user. Since the city is subsidizing the current
service, this study shall be delayed until the second year of the contract. This delay will
allow data to be made available for determining the ramifications of any revised
procedure. A proposed program should be introduced in October of 1991.
FEE DEFERRAL-WAIVER
Due to the magnitude of the sanitation fee in comparison to other utility fees, no fee
waiver will be granted for residential garbage service.
HARDSHIP APPEAL DUE TO PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS
DIRECTIONS:
1. The applicant must state their limitation for physical handicap.
2. The city reserves the right to request a physician’s statement.
3. The applicant must state that there is no other person available to utilize the cart.
4 Prior to being granted exemption from using the cart, the applicant must try the
cart.
5. City staff will interview the applicant.
6. The applicant must bring the completed form to the City Hall Sanitation
Department.
= ON
The applicant will receive stickers to put on their mixed refuse bags.
The stickers will be mailed to the applicant.
. Stickers will be required after September 1, 1991
0. The applicant will be required to pay the standard monthly fee.
1. This request is valid for one year from the date of acceptance.
PHYSICIAN STATEMENT:
I have determined that my patient, , will be unable
to use the 65-gallon wheeled mixed refuse cart.
Signature
Printed name Date
APPLICANT STATEMENT:
I, the undersigned, agree to pay the current monthly service fee for refuse collection. I
realize all mixed refuse must either be in a mixed refuse cart or have the proper sticker
affixed to it. Ifthe amount of stickers which are mailed to me are not sufficient, I realize
I must purchase additional mixed refuse stickers. I realize that 1 will need to re-apply on
an annual basis.
Signature
Printed name
Address
Telephone Date
Approved Date
CITY OF MUSKEGON SANITATION APPEAL FORM
I, reside
at
Am appealing to the City of Muskegon Sanitation Department for the following reasons:
] agree that all information stated above is accurate. I also agree to abide by the rules and
regulations and the ordinance for sanitation services in the City Of Muskegon.
Signature
Printed name
Telephone Date
Approved Date
Upon implementation of recycling by notice, recyclable items
shall be placed in a
recycling bin which will be provided to each residential
unit. The bin shall be placed on
the terrace on the same day as normal trash collection.
If unacceptable items have been
placed in the recycling bin, the City’s contractor will
leave a notice stating what is
unacceptable. The contractor may either remove the unaccep
table item and take the
remaining items or choose to not accept anything
in the bin.
Rules and regulations concerning placement and removal of recycli
ng bins are the same
as those applying to mixed refuse carts.
Use of other waste collection services:Owners and occupants
of units to be served
may provide for equivalent collection services. Howeve
r, no such services shall
be used which are not licensed by the city pursuant to ordinan
ce. No such service
shall be used which does not require the same collection method
s as provided by
the city and required by ordinance and regulation. No solid
waste or recyclable
materials shall be accumulated on any premises in the City,
in violation of City
Ordinance, and no such materials shall be disposed of at any
place except a
licensed and certified landfill.
Appeals for hardship: Any person who claims hardship
in complying with these
regulations or the ordinances of the city concerning
waste collections may apply
to the Director of the city’s Department of Public
Works for determination of
hardship and relief from part or all of the fees. In the event
the director denies
relief to an aggrieved party, the said person may appeal
to the Board of Appeals to
be appointed by the City Manager consisting of three
persons in the
administrative service of the city to consider hardship
appeals. Determination by
the said Board of Appeals shall be final.
In determining said hardship appeals, the Director of
Public Works or the Board
of Appeals may provide appropriate relief in hardship cases
which present unique
circumstances and which will not adversely affect the
ability of the city to apply
the ordinance and regulations uniformly.
The Director of Public Works and the City Manag
er shall provide form
documents and facilities for the hearing of said appeals
. No fees shall be charged
for hardship appeals.
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