More Trash Talk in Foster Township

By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director


There was more trash talk at Monday’s Foster Township Supervisors meeting.

Residents wanted more details on a plan that was introduced last month about changing the way trash is collected in the township. Last month supervisors voted to start a study to look into collecting its own trash instead of having several haulers do the pickups.

Derrick Road resident Ron VanScoter said one of the reasons he’s against the township getting involved is that it would be taking business away from private enterprise.

“You have private enterprise that works and they’re doing a good job. If the township collects their own, they’re going to put people out of work,” VanScoter said.

“Once the government’s involved, it seems to go out of hand,” he said.

Township resident Kira Leck said she hauls her own trash to the landfill, and thinks that people who don’t want to pay for trash collection shouldn’t have to.

“I work really hard at lowering my trash output. I recycle, I compost, I do all those things the hippies used to do,” she said. “I don’t have that much trash, and I don’t think I should have to pay those fees if I don’t use the service. “

“This ordinance will not get shoved down the taxpayers’ throat,” said supervisor Jim Connelly Jr. “Taxpayers would have a choice. It’s your township.”

“It’s something we’re not rushing into,” said Chris Wolcott. “We’re going to do some studies on it and see how feasible it’s going to be, and get all our ducks in a row and present it to everybody to see what you think. We might even put it on a ballot.”

Connelly did say when he went to last month’s Association of Township Supervisors meeting he learned about four townships that got together and bid out the trash collection service. The residents’ cost went from about $22 to $12.24.

“My concern is to bring the garbage rates down for the residents of Foster Township,” Connelly said, adding that this is not a money-making endeavor for the township.

“We’re not allowed to take garbage revenue and dump it into the general fund,” Connelly said.

Private hauler Tom Vickery said he’s spoken with many township residents over the last several days and they would rather have a private citizen provide the service.

Vickery, who charges $15, said he believes he wouldn’t be getting as much interest if the five companies currently picking up trash were not overcharging.

“It’s grossly overcharged,” he said.

He currently provides services to Smethport for $12.40 for almost everyone. Senior citizens pay $12.25. Residents also have an option to pay a per-bag price, which is $1.75.

Vickery did acknowledge that townships and boroughs are different, and many factors are involved. Vickery also addressed something code enforcement officer John Place said earlier in the meeting.

Place said he’d gotten a few complaints from people about trash on their neighbors’ property, which he said probably happened because “the snow melted.”

Vickery said over the last few days he’s talked with about 20 people who “literally, openly said they didn’t have a garbage man … They dealt with it however they saw fit to deal with it.”

He said they told him for $20 they’d deal with; for $15 they’d hire him.

In other matters, Connelly said 7-year-old Nicholas Ward and 5-year-old Alexis Ward made their Earth Day project cleaning up township’s Community Park.

“They came home from school and said, ‘C’mon Mom. C’mon Dad, let’s go clean the park It’s Earth Day,” Connelly said. “They did a nice job. It’s nice that we have youth like that in our township.”

Their parents are Dave and Valerie Ward.

Also, supervisor chairman Bob Slike wanted to acknowledge the fact that Wal-Mart manager Ron Orris is retiring.

“Ron has really been a great contributor to Foster Township,” Slike said. “I’m not going to name the things he’s done, but he’s done a lot. We appreciate it, and we wish him the best of luck in his retirement.”

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