Independence garbage pick-up fees to increase

Independence city officials approved a hike in garbage collection fees, shut down — for at least a month — the historical society offices in city hall and heard that the Bugle Lake dam is leaking.

The 55-cent-a month increase in garbage collection fees will go into effect Jan. 1. The increase comes just a year into a three-year contract, with four of the six council members agreeing that it is better to increase rates slowly than all at once at the end of the contract.

Tri-City Sanitation “has no trouble sticking to the original contract,” said council Jason Ekern, “but it seems like a good idea to feather them in.” 

Voting last Tuesday against the increase was Deb Marsolek who said that Independence should consider Whitehall’s approach, which is to have the collection service contract directly with residents.  

“We shouldn’t be putting our nose in the middle,” Marsolek said. 

Also voting against the increase was Tim Hanson.

The city’s insurance carrier told the city the Independence Area Historical Society’s offices in the basement of city hall do not have a suitable emergency exit, and so cannot be covered. 

The council told society members that they should not occupy the area until the insurance issue is resolved. The society is hoping to open its collection to the public.

“Let’s not jump right away,” said Mayor Robert Baecker. “Let’s see what other options we might have.”

The only exit from the lower level is in a room that holds secure computer equipment and so can’t be open to the public, city clerk Tiffany Bautch said she was told by an insurance representative. If another exit can’t be found, the insurance company suggested construction of a fire wall.

Dan Cook of Davy Engineering told the council the source of a leak in the dam at Bugle Lake needs to be investigated. The examination of the dam could be coordinated with the drop down of the lake when dredging of its sediment pond is underway.

The engineering firm was originally hired for $2,000 to inspect the dam.

“I don’t want to go on the public record” about what a dam repair might cost, Cook said, “but it will be more than $10,000.”

The council delegated to the city’s property committee the decision about what types of organizations can use the shelter and area next to the Highway 93 bridge. Committee members are charged with meeting with the Lions Club, which built the pavilion.

Marsolek said she was contacted by Tom Babler who sought permission to park his wood-fired pizza truck at the bridge but was denied permission by the council.

“I asked him if he would come to our concert in the park,” Marsolek said. “But he said no, not after the way he was treated.”

Baecker said the area was originally designated for use by non-profit organizations but that has changed with use by a farmers market. 

“Nobody here treated (Babler) badly,” Baecker said. “Things have just changed.”

City officials will review at the end of the school year whether the city needs an ordinance and enforcement mechanism for truant school children.

Police Chief Jim Waniorek told the council school officials are interested in a city ordinance as a way of getting quicker action against chronically truant youngsters. Waniorek said just two Independence district children have received tickets those others have been contacted by the district for excess absences.

City attorney LaVerne Michalak said the county is better equipped to handle truancy, with deputies able to write citations and, if necessary, for county human services to become involved.

The council also:

• Was told there would be a $1.86-per-resident increase in the city’s contribution to the Arcadia Ambulance Service. The city may look at alternative ambulance services, perhaps from Whitehall. Council members noted, however, that the Arcadia service can only survive if all member municipalities continue to subscribe.

• Decided it would be permissible to leave the card of a lower-priced stump removal service in city hall.

• Authorized the city attorney to begin to compile the latest amendments into city ordinance, starting with zoning ordinances.