A brief article in today’s Republican gives a preview of today’s 11:00 am press conference in Room 220 at Springfield City Hall about the upcoming fiscal year’s trash fee. From the piece, by Peter Goonan:
The city plans to send postcards explaining the trash fee and its options on April 2 to approximately 48,000 billable accounts for homeowners and many small businesses. The first quarterly bill will be mailed on or about April 16. Homeowners will be asked to mark the box either accepting city trash collection for a $90 annual fee, or opting out by planning to make their own arrangements for trash removal….
Those people who already paid the prior trash fee or part of the fee have the option of having it credited to their new bill or taking a refund, both owed to the owner with interest, as directed by the court ruling….
A 25 percent discount on the fee remains for homeowners who qualify as a senior citizen, blind, or a veteran with a service-related disability. Those who qualified for the discount under the prior fee remain qualified unless the property was sold.
Recycling and yard waste collection will remain a free service to all residents, whether or not they opt for the trash fee, officials said. In addition, bulk collection will continue to be available by appointment.
The press conference will feature Springfield Mayor Charles Ryan, Department of Public Works Director Allan Chwalek, and Senior Financial Analyst Peter Graczykowski announcing, according to the city’s media advisory, "details and procedures surrounding the newly re-implemented trash fee." I’m not sure if there’s much else to say; Goonan’s article covered it pretty well. Then again, a lot of that information is already up on the city’s Web page about the trash fee. Residents with questions may wish to continue to monitor that page.
Here’s hoping that the public relations effort with Trash Fee, Take Two goes a little smoother.
