Blanchester village council sets increased garbage rates

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BLANCHESTER — Trash collection rates in Blanchester increased Thursday from $12.24 to $12.60 per month.

Blanchester village council approved the rates based on a proposal sent by Rumpke, which will collect the garbage.

According to Blanchester Mayor John Carman, the village is looking into applying for a curbside recycling grant. Blanchester fiscal officer Sherry Cope said Rumpke has indicated it may drop the price to $12.24 if that grant is awarded.

The rate, which has already gone into effect, is valid for one year. There were options to lock in a two-year rate, but they were more expensive.

Council member J.L. Runk was absent. All other members voted to approve the rates.

Also in Blanchester council:

Council voted to close an alley between Center Street and Clark Street to Rumpke and notify residents that they’ll need to have their trash at the end of the alley. The alley, according to street department head Wayne Clifton, can’t bear vehicles that heavy.

Clifton said a resident who owns several apartments on South Broadway Street wanted a road fixed. He said the requested work would be expensive.

“Did you tell her to get her pocket book out?” Wallace asked. “People don’t understand we don’t have the money to do all this stuff.” Council took no action.

Board member Cindy Sutton reported that the planning committee discussed placing a guard barrier between Lee Ann Court and Orchard View Lane. The committee and the street department are researching the matter.

After an executive session, council moved zoning inspector Dan Whitworth from probation to Step E on the salary schedule. Whitworth was hired in May.

Cope told council the Commercial Activities Tax and kilowatt tax were being phased out by the Ohio legislature’s recently passed budget bill. The two taxes will be phased out over nine years, according to Cope, and is annually $70,000.

Cope also said expenses were 8.7 percent less compared to the same date last year. While revenues were matched with last year’s revenue, Cope said several state revenues were received earlier. Without those earlier revenues, the village may have seen a decrease in revenues.

“We’re doing the due diligence in trying to keep the costs down,” Carman said. “Hopefully, people will understand that we’re not just trying to get money for the sake of getting money.”

Carman said he would personally pay for the planting of flowers and repainting of the flower pots in front of the village building.

Several council members agreed to personally donate towards the $677 needed to mail about 1,500 flyers urging voters to accept the earnings tax that Blanchester voters will get to vote on November 3.

Reach Nathan Kraatz at 937-382-2574, ext. 2510 or on Twitter @NathanKraatz.

Street department supervisor Wayne Clifton asks council Thursday evening to close an alley in Blanchester from Rumpke truck traffic in order to protect the alley.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/10/web1_DSC_0013.jpgStreet department supervisor Wayne Clifton asks council Thursday evening to close an alley in Blanchester from Rumpke truck traffic in order to protect the alley.

By Nathan Kraatz

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