You do know that we send off these jokers to consultants, whom we pay, to teach them how to raise money in ways that aren't deemed to be taxes?

Many don't realize that!

Getting a trash company to bill ad-ons for them would be ideal!
It is similar to getting the telephone company now to bill us for 911, etc., instead of including the cost in taxes!

Plopping on sales taxes in various percentages puts the retail guys at fault---not the politicians!

Then there are hunting and fishing and driving and all kinds of working licenses.

Car tags and car worth tax could be included in the regular county tax bill---but it isn't. Everyone now has 2-3 cars, nearly.

The golf cart and drainage run off fees could also be included in one tax by the city, but they are not. I don't even have any run-off!
Anyway a concrete parking lot runs off a thousand times more than ground!

So those who can't afford the $2 bags do what?
Pitch it in the lake or bay? Or over the bank?

Can you imagine bag theft at night with your trash on the road?

You said "pound some sanity into Cynthia Plunkett before it's too late" Too late for what? God knows I have been pounded but it has never been too late.

But back to the trash collection - why not leave it alone? Who cares? I used to, but let free enterprise rule.

BTW, your avitar sucks. Get a photo of Dan Tennant and put it up there.

Both the pounding and the Dan Tennant photo. I was going to use a Steve Brown one where it appears he had a mullet, but I figured that might upset the powers that be. PLus, someone might think that is actually me and that would be bad, real bad.

Has the city considered using the collection trucks to read water meters (via a device on the truck that reads the meters rather than a person entering data)? It's being done in several other communities and has resulted in large savings by not having to send a meter reader around. Occasionally, the municiaplity can even sell the service to other utility providers, such as Georgia Power. Con-Ed is doing it in Brooklyn and Queens.

That's the County's realm. If they aren't already reading meters by radio or wireless, they might be interested. Most cities of any size do already are these days.

I wasn't completely befuddled by the "Fayette County" portion of my Fayette County water bill. It is, however, a service that can be sold that would generate easy revenue for the city and lower costs for the county.

You have to understand that some people think the schools in PTC are operated by the city itself, so I don't ever assume too much here

My statement wasn't clear.

They are read wirelessly from a pick up truck now.

Yes. Fayette County Water System does the water, WASA does sewer and both are on a combined billing.

PTC does own the Stormwater Utility.

With all things being so busy I really need to shift my statements on these things back to the website in my sig line. So look there for issues and a place to ask questions. I cannot guarantee you are going to be answered here or your concerns even noted.

Thanks.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

If you don't make it mandatory, what is the point?

All I would ask as a PTC Citizen is to LOOK at the proposals and make a decision based on what's best for all.

Me, I would love to see less Trash Trucks on my street IF the deal is good enough. My Bill has gone up a good bit lately with the trash company I currently use, one of at least 3 I see on my street weekly.

That is why we went ahead with the FRP. To be able to see the full proposal.

Understand many things cannot be recycled or no recycling buyer is available for some things, such as glass. Also everyone will have a minimum of two trucks go through, one for trash and one for recycling. Potentially double that if your street is a route for an area or areas where a single set of trucks cannot handle all the pickups.

This can mean increased cost without a lowering of truck traffic. Maybe even an increase in traffic for some.

It will not fix the issues of compressing grease and other substances onto pavement any better than can be currently accomplished with regulations on all trucks now.

I am just trying to say this is far from a cut and dry issues. There are no simplistic answers here. And becoming a nanny state is not something I want to do.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com

Which is totally possible..

By Mandatory, I'm not saying everyone has to have trash pickup. I thought it was just IF you did have trash pickup, you would use the City approved vendor (if it agreed to and put into place). Otherwise, I see no point in proceeding.

On a 2nd note, I can't for the life of me see how anyone would not want trash pickup. But I disgress.

Again, thanks for your comments.

PTC is out of trash regulation.
Everyone is now on their own.
Several new companies are competing for all of the business.
I wish to recommend "Pedro's Trash Pick Up."
Pedro uses small donkeys to pull his two-wheeled cart with side-racks covered in canvas, and has low overhead.
He will get all your stuff for 1 dollar per week.

There are others who some have bags under the mules rear-ends, but they cost more.

I understand that Mike and a few others prefer this unregulated type of trash pick-up and I am for them using Pedro!

You have once again missed your meds. Show up Saturday and maybe those of us with kind hearts will help you to once again levitate above your bird laden clock.

I just simply get fed-up with this "conservative" jabber all of the time about doing everything by being totally independent of our central government or our local government.
It makes no sense in most cases and you are smart enough to know it!

Yet, when the banks need a "bail-out" you guys are all for it..it is necessary! (or against it vocally but are glad it happened).

You want the Interstates and the roads and dams fixed, but want PTC to do their own, I suppose! Or maybe all toll roads and stock owned dams!

Who designs the Interstates and where they go? Seabaugh maybe? Or do we vote on it.

Should we close the mental institutions and jails (stuff of big government) which Georgia has nearly done by default anyway, or should we be taxed for them?

Should all residents of PTC attend pistol and AK-47 shooting classes in case we are attacked by Riverdale or a bunch of Muslims?

Should our soldiers get free health care, free clothes, free bullets, free food, free housing, free pensions, free places to buy cheap groceries, free health care after retired, free schooling, or, should we give them the money as salary and let them plan it all?

No, you say, that is NOT Socialist, that is necessity!

Bull.

"As for the recycling center, charge a fee for all of the tree businesses that are allowed to use it. Bet that will more than cover the cost."

Are you suggesting that tipping fees for what amounts to stump grinding would cover the entire opex for residential and commercial pickup, bulking and transfer?

You ain't shooting from the hip, pal, you're shooting from the kneecaps -- and missing the mark. Perhaps read the RFP and tinker around with the math involved.

And should the great state of Georgia ever decide to joint the 21st century and require municipal landfill diversion, your "alky" (and by that I suppose you mean his pH is too high) friend Bernie will have been far ahead of the field with an infrastructure in place.

I don't understand your profound and seemingly heart-felt desire to assert your right to not throw away trash. Some people like tilting windmills.

Way to pick your battles, bud. We can name the first recycling truck Rociante in your honor.

"tipping fees for what amounts to stump grinding would cover the entire opex for residential and commercial pickup, bulking and transfer?"

NOT...let me copy paste this reeeeaaaaalllllyyyyy reeeeaaaallllyyy slooooooooow so that you will be able to read it again and understand.

As for the recycling center, charge a fee for all of the tree businesses that are allowed to use it. Bet that will more than cover the cost. Another novel idea, charge a nominal fee for all who use it! Not everyone in the city uses the recycling center.

Read the original post that refers to charging fees to RELOCATE the Recycling Center....be very careful to read it SLOW so that you will understand that too!

You and Uncle Bernie must be good friends. I know that Uncle B has been convicted of DUI but your comment, "And should the great state of Georgia ever decide to joint the 21st century." was that a slip??? that will get you for "possession less, than one ounce." BE CAREFUL, big brother is always watching and trying to take your right to smoke a "joint" after a good lunch away!

“Once in, you’ve got to see it through. You’ve got to perform without flinching whatever duty is assigned you, regardless of the difficulty or the danger attending it.”
Theodore Roosevelt, Remarks to Recruits, circa 1898

But you didn't really think it through.

Tipping fees include both the tonnage costs and any other related fees -- taxes, etc. Stump grinding is what is commonly done to the materials brought in by tree trimmers and removers.

Tipping fees for stump grinding is the very "fees for tree businesses" of which you referred.

So, on one hand you bet that is the answer while on the other typing NOT to the very same thing.

My point was that "fees" for "tree businesses" would not cover the operating expenses -- even if the company measured itself with EBITDA rather than EBIT (pushing the CAPEX depreciation below the "bottom line"). Y
Perhaps you're typing too slowly, friend.

I ran a rather large MRF with on-site 16 week composting. You sat down at a computer and tried to crack wise. You're in no position to question my expertise.

One wonders who taught you to believe that insults strengthened your argument.

You want me to pay for the relocation of a facility that tree businesses are able to utilize for free and I and may other PTC residents don't use? What a socialist idea!!!!

OK, so I pick up the tab for someone else to dispose of refuse material that is a by product of their "BUSINESS" for free but I have to pay for it.

No thanks!

“Once in, you’ve got to see it through. You’ve got to perform without flinching whatever duty is assigned you, regardless of the difficulty or the danger attending it.”
Theodore Roosevelt, Remarks to Recruits, circa 1898

Are you telling me that the head beaureaucrat in Peachtree City knows better than I as to disposal of household waste? I think not. I have not, nor do I anticipate having the requirement of city officials telling me what is trash and what is recycle material.

As an adult, I prefer choices in lieu of direction. As far as the damage to city streets, we all know it's minor except for those who seek to find something for which to complain. As for the extra noise, perhaps those who are offended are those who complained about the train whistle some time back.

This city has more to worry about than getting bogged down deciding upon something that is best left alone!

Just my two cents worth.

"Are you telling me that the head beaureaucrat in Peachtree City knows better than I as to disposal of household waste? I think not."

You're actually answering yourself here. What I wrote was clear enough and didn't need paraphrasing.

Should I assume your "we" is royal, or are you speaking for everybody?

You're in no position to question my expertise in this area, friend.

It is certainly not my intent to challenge your expertise in this "trashy" arena, that ,sir, is yours to dispose as you wish. My point is simple, I do not need bureaucrats making decisions for me that I reserve to be mine.

Should you require the hand of "big brother" government to lead you along, well that's your choice.

"My point is simple, I do not need bureaucrats making decisions for me that I reserve to be mine."

Point taken.

Rather than provide why I might be in favor of this (Should you require the hand of "big brother" government to lead you along, well that's your choice), why not ask me?

...I'll bite; Do you really believe that mere citizens are incapable of taking it upon themselves to do the responsible thing and do what is best for the environment?

Granted there are those among us that take advantage of limited resources, but to remedy those shortcomings education and example setting is required to turn them around. Having "big brother" do it for us teaches nothing. It's kind of like continuous handouts whereby dependency is created within a welfare system and nothing is gained except perhaps for an undereducated and revolving door of constituents.

I do not challenge your expertise in either the recycling arena or trash disposal, I assume your integrity. I simply do believe that the administrators of Peachtree City have much bigger fish to fry than to assume yet another responsibility. Either way this particular ball bounces, we will live with it.

"Do you really believe that mere citizens are incapable of taking it upon themselves to do the responsible thing and do what is best for the environment?"

I do not believe that. My thoughts on the matter have nothing to do with a lack of faith in my fellow man's ability to make choices. I simply believe there are worthwhile benefits of a franchaise contract.

It's been my experience that prices go down and quality of service goes up under a franchaise contract. Futher, the city can -- and should -- request participation from the hauler for various clean up events, such as cleaning up creek beds, cart paths, etc.

I personally worked with the City of Napa on such a franchaise deal. Aside from dramatically lowering prices, we also established a bi-annual "clean the river" event, hosted by the hauling company that took literally hundreds of tons of garbage out of the Napa River. Tje previous hodge podge of haulers had no vested interest in doing such things.

In my opinion, these are worthwhile tradeoffs for a decision (choosing one's one hauling company) that I doubt many people give too much thought about anyway.

Either way, I understand and respect your perspective.

Thanks for the dialog as you do have valid points and make your case well, it has been a pleasure.

He is speaking for everyone that I have ask about this subject in the last couple of months. Not one person that I have ask is for this, it is all coming to light though. Bernie is looking for a way to pay for the relocation of the recycling center after the council voted to let a developer build there and re-align Rockaway Rd. For those of use that have been here for any time we realize whats happening. Its just convenient way for Bernie and the good mayor (Otis Campbell) to force the good people to pay for what they want. And they want to put you in Jail if you don't pay your bill, that there is progress.
The more that you speak on this subject the more we all believe that you are involved with the company that is pushing this.

"The more that you speak on this subject the more we all believe that you are involved with the company that is pushing this."

I suppose that's easier to believe than to accept that someone with an informed opinion differs from your way of seeing things.

You described our situation very accurately. It's a shame, this used to be such a charming town.

“Once in, you’ve got to see it through. You’ve got to perform without flinching whatever duty is assigned you, regardless of the difficulty or the danger attending it.”
Theodore Roosevelt, Remarks to Recruits, circa 1898