Mertonites: Don't dump the dump

Posted: April 15, 2009

Town of Merton – About 60 people showed up at Town Hall on Tuesday night, April 14, to urge town officials to continue operating the town dump even though taxpayers might be subsidizing it by as much as about $50,000 a year.

The residents told the Town Board that the dump is one of the unique characteristics of the town.

In addition, they said, it is cheaper and more convenient for them to deliver their garbage and recyclable materials at the dump each week than to have the refuse picked up at their doorstep or on their driveway.

One elderly town resident reasoned that when delivering garbage to the dump during the winter he could stay in his car while dump employees removed the garbage.

If he had home garbage collection, he would have to walk the garbage down his long driveway, braving winter cold, snow, and ice.

Most of the citizens attending the information meeting were apparently among the 1,100 town residents who do not have garbage service.

The remaining 1,800 town residents have private garbage collection agreements, according to Waukesha County officials.

The town could save those residents about $100 a year and reduce dump operating expenses by entering into a new proposed garbage collection contract with Veolia Environmental Services, according to town officials.

"Any change of this significance should be put to the people first in a referendum," said town resident Rob Moebius. "A lot of people will vote to support the dump.

Ken Dragotta suggested some town residents would be willing to pay an additional fee to continue to use the dump rather than a commercial garbage service.

"Each time my wife and I go to the dump to drop off our garbage we feel cleansed," said John Buestow, who argued town residents should have a choice of whether they wanted to use the dump or a private contractor.

Town Chairman Dick Morris told the group that the Town Board does not intend to close the transfer and recycling station on Peterson Road.

He said he anticipated it would continue to operate as a yard waste disposal site if the Town Board adopted a new garbage collection contract.

In addition, Morris said, the town would continue its annual tradition of the brat and hamburger Lunch at the Dump each May.

According to the 2009 budget, it costs about $87,787 to operate the dump, which generates about $38,000 in revenues.

However, Morris and Town Clerk Susie Oman later said the budget doesn't reflect all of the revenues and expenses related to dump operations.

Morris said when all expenses and revenues where accounted for the deficit would be closer to $15,000 than $50,000.

Veolia Environmental Services is proposing to collect everyone's garbage and recyclables in the town.

In addition, it will pick up large items such as furniture and appliances as part of the contract.

The Town Board will have the option of choosing roadside service or having the refuse picked up at the front door or garage of the home.

The roadside service would cost homeowners $157.08, a year while having the refuse picked up at the garage or front door would cost $175.56

The annual fee for the garbage service would be included on each homeowner's real estate tax bill.

Waukesha County officials have suggested that the contract would likely result in increased recycled materials collected in the town, which would result in a larger recycle rebate paid to the town.

"The town needs to do what is best for the town residents, not the county coffers," argued Glen Lauersdorf, one of three part-time town employees who work at the dump.

Lauersdorf and others also argued that the annual fee would be a burden for people living on fixed or retirement incomes.

Morris said he did not expect the Town Board would make a decision before June.

He said town supervisors have to give the issue a lot of thought and research.

"I am not even sure how to begin," he said.