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Eric
Member
Username: Eric

Post Number: 460
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 35.11.210.161
Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 5:46 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Detroit City Council wants to bring back bulk trash pickup...kinda

May 24, 2006

Email this Print this By MARISOL BELLO

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Heeding the cries of countless Detroit residents, the city council this afternoon approved Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's proposed $1.4 billion budget with one caveat -- bringing back bulk trash pickup four times a year.

The mayor ended bulk trash pickup service in January as a part of budget cuts.

The council reappropriated about $9 million from other city expenditures to pay for a quarterly bulk trash pick up program. The mayor's budget already includes a $300 a year garbage fee on city residents that will replace the city's current millage for the service.

The council made other minor tweaks to the mayor’s proposal — they changed about 1% of the city’s $1.4 billion general fund budget — including changing a proposed 75-cent bus fare for the disabled to a 50-cent fare for seniors and the disabled. Currently, both groups ride city buses for free.

The council voted 6-3 in favor of the amended budget.

Members Kenneth Cockrel, Jr., Monica Conyers, Shiela Cockrel, Kwame Kenyatta, Martha Reeves and Alberta Tinsley-Talabi voted for it. Members Barbara-Rose Collins, Brenda Jones and JoAnn Watson voted against it.

The budget now goes to the mayor, who has until June 2 to veto or approve it. If he vetoes it, the budget goes back to the council to decide if members want to sustain the veto or override it. The nine-meber council would need a two-thirds vote, or six votes, to override a mayoral veto.

The proposed budget would go into effect at the beginning of the 2006-07 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Contact MARISOL BELLO at 313-222-6678 or mbello@freepress.com.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20060524/NEW S11/60524022
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E_hemingway
Member
Username: E_hemingway

Post Number: 682
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 68.42.176.123
Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 8:59 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

My first question after reading that story was did the budget include the lower millage in exchange for the garbage pickup fee? (Amended portion: I missed the part in the third graph where it said this the first time I read the story.)

The News' story:

Budget passes with $300 trash fee

Detroit council also revives bulk waste pickup in passing $1.4B plan that takes effect July 1.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20060525/M ETRO/605250350/1003

I think it's a step in the right direction. Wouldn't this make the overall millage in the city 64 mills instead of 67?

(Message edited by E_hemingway on May 25, 2006)
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Merchantgander
Member
Username: Merchantgander

Post Number: 1805
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 150.198.150.244
Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 9:06 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yes your millage will be going down.

I think the most interesting part of the CC budget is charging seniors for riding the bus. I think it is a great idea but I cannot believe that the CC had the balls to do it.
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E_hemingway
Member
Username: E_hemingway

Post Number: 684
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 68.42.176.123
Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 9:13 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Good point. I like the idea of giving them a discount price of 50 cents compared to the normal 75 cents. Plus the idea of quarterly bulk trash pickup seems like a good compromise between the old system and abolishing it. Overall, with the exception of the Zoo debacle, I think this council is improved from the last one.
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Fnemecek
Member
Username: Fnemecek

Post Number: 1686
Registered: 12-2004
Posted From: 69.212.225.151
Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 9:36 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

E_hemingway:
FYI - the normal fare on city buses is $1.50; not 75 cents.
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Eastsidedog
Member
Username: Eastsidedog

Post Number: 414
Registered: 03-2006
Posted From: 12.47.224.8
Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 11:39 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Fnemecek, KK proposed 75 cents for seniors and the disableds. CC changed it to 50 cents.

Things are moving along. This is good. And I agree a better council than last year.
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Jsmyers
Member
Username: Jsmyers

Post Number: 1725
Registered: 12-2003
Posted From: 209.131.7.68
Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 11:44 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Actually, I believe that the administration propsed 75 cents for disabled people and nothing for seniors.

CC, with TRU's input, leveled them off to an equal 50 cents (which is what SMART is).

http://www.detroittransit.org
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Merchantgander
Member
Username: Merchantgander

Post Number: 1815
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 150.198.150.244
Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 12:43 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Detroit mayor to sign off on city council budget changes

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20060525/NEW S11/60525008
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Bvos
Member
Username: Bvos

Post Number: 1460
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 70.228.2.1
Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 9:40 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Any word on the NEZ for historic neighborhoods? I'm guessing it would be in the budget since it would be political suicide to not include it, but you never know.
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Danny
Member
Username: Danny

Post Number: 4190
Registered: 02-2004
Posted From: 141.217.173.151
Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 8:49 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

While Detroit is under a new budget. It's time you Detroiters to bring out your lawnmovers and cut some weeds off the vacants lots. It's time for you Detroiters to pay the waste management companies and pick up the trash that is lying on the streets. Some of your may have some money so chip in.
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Alexei289
Member
Username: Alexei289

Post Number: 1160
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 68.61.183.223
Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 11:06 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

try mowing a vacant lot that has been covered in construction debris from illegal dumpers for years... see how long your mower lasts after chewing up a few shingles and cinder blocks.
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Eastsidedog
Member
Username: Eastsidedog

Post Number: 425
Registered: 03-2006
Posted From: 12.47.224.7
Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 1:16 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Alexei289, first you have to clear it of debris, then weedwack it, then mow it, then continue to mow it every couple weeks to keep it under control. The key is to not let the lots get so bad in the first place. I've been itching to start on the one across the street from me. I think I'll try to get a neighbor to chip in because I'm sure it will be hellish. Of course houses may be built there by the end of the summer.
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Bvos
Member
Username: Bvos

Post Number: 1463
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 70.228.2.1
Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 9:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

If houses may be built there by the end of the summer you should be pressing the developer to cut the grass. They would be the ones who own the property and there is no excuse for them to not cut it.

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