The Observation Deck

Stephen,

Well, a dumpster the size of that toy one in the video, I could probably handle.


Wouldn't you like to know where people are REALLY coming from, when they post on the 'Deck?

As for me, I try to be pretty transparent.

In addition to working with special needs people, I've admitted to having some medical issues that cause me personal concern with this heavy movin' and shakin'. In addition, I'll just add that a few years ago, I also slipped on the ice and landed on my head, causing a lights-out condition that could well have been permanent...so yeah, I do worry about myself and others tryin' to do what they shouldn't.

Hey, I understand that there are even OSHA rules about how much people should lift on the job, and I wouldn't be surprised if kickin' back some of the heavier dumpsters might not exceed those rules. Talk about liability. What if a resident is injured moving a city-supplied dumpster? I'm no attorney, but this is, after all, a city-mandated manual labor.

What a mess that could be!

So flame me all you wish for my God-given right to an opinion. Mark my words though. Someone's probably gonna get hurt tryin' to move these things in this weather. I just wish I could get that message out better before it happens.

I think that Ed's post says it all. I cannot imagine the City of Lakewood recklessly implementing a refuse plan that would endanger any of its citizens.

what about those that will pay for their backyard service? will that happen? can that happen? how much would that cost?
i would be interested in that.

Stephen,

Agreed.

Hopefully, if this is implemented, the message will clearly get out to all those concerned.

To save $500K, end it. If it makes it easier, I suggest no street parking on garbage day as well. Anyone in violation gets a $100 or a tow if found violating repeatedly.
On a related topic, well done to the LPD for the increase in speed traps and people that I've seen pulled over. I love to hear the ringing of the cash register at city hall, knock on wood. I'm still waiting to see the meter maids to recoup the cost of the new parking meter equipment, might have to wait until the thaw at this point.

Shawn, I'd be curious to know from Public Works or whoever decides such things if it would be practical to prohibit on-street parking on garbage day.

Of course as we all know, our streets have lots of doubles, layed out before cars were as ubiquitous as they are now. Households with two adults commonly have two cars. That means four cars for many of our double houses. Some of our houses don't even have driveways. It's entirely possible that they don't have any option but to park on the street.

It's the hand we're dealt.

There's the bigger issue here too.

The elephant in the room.

And no, I'm not discussing our local Republicans either.

It's just that, we continue to compete with neighboring communities on the quality-of-life issues. These affect our property values, our regional perception by others, and of course, our perception of ourselves.

The one thing that we seem to show on this 'Deck, time and again, Republicans, Democrats, (and whatever other strange political beliefs that some of us might have ), we do care deeply about Lakewood.

That's a good thing.

So let's really struggle with these quality-of life issues before we change 'em...

like back yard trash pick-up perhaps, but not only THAT issue.

Let's think about that old "crisis-is-opportunity" cliche', or maybe the "glass-is-half-full" cliche', but one way or the other, let's try to keep the best of Lakewood as long as possible.

Once it's gone....well, you know...

Heard today about another far-western suburb on the ropes...well, we're Lakewood, not them.

Let's lead others through this huge national moral and financial crisis.

Show 'em what we're made of.

Kumbayah indeed.

Anyone notice how many "looks" this thread has received so far?
Wow.

Mark Crnolatas
Lakewood Resident

A picture is worth a thousand words and puts propoganda in perspective.

This system is gonna consume more of our time ,getting cans placed exactly properly, money from parking fines, ...and waaaay more involvment with neighbors then I can to have.

Picture your self asking your neighbor if you can put your extra garbage in their can.

Picture your self looking for paking that is "feet" away from any can.

Picture your self digging a special slot in the snow to place your can.

Picture Lakewood this time next year... wee big fun for you and me!

http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/streets/doc ... le2007.pdf

The refuse department is one of the if not THE most leanest ran departments in the city. Their work force is so lean infact that it is hard for these folks to schedule vacations or even take time off for illness.

The recycling programs help to off set some of their operating costs, and they deliver a service to Lakewood residents that is both superior and Cheaper then its peer city Kettering. CHEAPER! Our refuse department is cheaper and offers us more service then and any other comparable city I have been able to find- if I am wrong- please share.

Lakewood residents paid about 14.01 in 2007 for BACK YARD trash pick up and unlimited bulk pick up, and yard waste removal, and recycling and…..

Kettering residents paid:
“The cost per month for unlimited, houseside pickup of trash and recycling is $15.58 (billed quarterly). This also includes free weekly bulk pickup and monthly used appliance pickup.
The City has always used private companies for trash hauling. In July 2004 the City went to a one hauler system with a five year contract with Waste Management.â€

[quote="Shelley Hurd"]Lakewood residents paid about 14.01 in 2007 for BACK YARD trash pick up and unlimited bulk pick up, and yard waste removal, and recycling and…..

Kettering residents paid:
“The cost per month for unlimited, houseside pickup of trash and recycling is $15.58 (billed quarterly). This also includes free weekly bulk pickup and monthly used appliance pickup.
The City has always used private companies for trash hauling. In July 2004 the City went to a one hauler system with a five year contract with Waste Management.â€

Charlie Page wrote:

Shelley Hurd wrote:Lakewood residents paid about 14.01 in 2007 for BACK YARD trash pick up and unlimited bulk pick up, and yard waste removal, and recycling and…..
....

Kettering residents are charged $15.58 per month for trash removal in addition to income/property taxes paid.

Lakewood residents pay zero per month for trash removal in addition to income/property taxes paid.

Umm arent we in agreement?

You said, "Kettering residents are charged $15.58 per month for trash removal in addition to income/property taxes paid.

Lakewood residents pay zero per month for trash removal in addition to income/property taxes paid."

It is kinda my point, we are better off then most cities. We get more for our dollar.

But if you want to take a closer look at that Structual Balance Report and the Auditors Perfomance Report, please get back to me on which department is over staffed by 14 FTEs in compairison with peer cities and calls. And has higher saleries and has more worker comp claims and has had a 400 percent increase in overtime and...... Please do.

And please post your findings, I think we would all like to know where the fat is. Please do.

Charlie,
You said:

"In the latest performance audit, Refuse and Recycling for Lakewood has 0.86 FTEs (Full Time Equivalent employees) per 1,000 residents. Cleveland Heights has 0.64 FTEs. Kettering and Euclid have zero because this service is subcontracted. While the Auditor of State did not have a finding that Lakewood should reduce the number of FTEs in Refuse and Recycling, the data shows Cleveland Heights is performing this service with fewer employees. "

Refuse employees make @ 42,000 a year
So you state they have ,.. what 2 more then the average right?
So cutting 2 FTEs from refuse would save...humm around.. 84,000 right?

(but lets not factor in we have back yard pick up, one of the if not the, states highest recycling program (39%) and all the other added duties they perform for this city and what the increase cost would be for the city if we lost Cushman operators who perform those many unknow to the public service's which are outside of their job discriptions...)

Our refuse department is one of the hardest working, understaffed, leanest ran and efficient departments in this city.

But the Auditor of State did find one department thats cuck full of fat, waste...

That other department was reccomended in the Performance Audit to reduse 14 FTEs which would save this city about.... mmm.... @ +/- 1,050,000 (that’s a million +/- ) in just salaries alone

And that’s with out factoring all the overtime, retirement benefits and medical.... for the department the Auditor of State points to as FAT.

Shelley Hurd wrote:(but lets not factor in we have back yard pick up, one of the if not the, states highest recycling program (39%) and all the other added duties they perform for this city and what the increase cost would be for the city if we lost Cushman operators who perform those many unknow to the public service's which are outside of their job discriptions...).

Shelly

Cleveland Heights has backyard pick-up.


FWIW


.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Shelley Hurd wrote:(but lets not factor in we have back yard pick up, one of the if not the, states highest recycling program (39%) and all the other added duties they perform for this city and what the increase cost would be for the city if we lost Cushman operators who perform those many unknow to the public service's which are outside of their job discriptions...).

Shelly

Cleveland Heights has backyard pick-up.


FWIW


.

Yes, your right they do../shrug

err, not sure why you felt a need to share that tid bit.

Really doesnt change anything I said.. seems kinda random.. but ok!
Always good to have others add to the conversation