Addison Township’s annual Spring Clean Up Saturday, May 13 will cost the township about $5,000, but an extra charge to participating residents could have been waived.
Officials were considering waiving the $25 per load fee after Treasurer Dan Alberty and Supervisor Bob Koski secured close to $3,000 in donations, but some trustees were adamant about charging the fee.
The township had previously budgeted $5,000 for the clean-up with $2,500 coming from the 2006-07 budget and the other $2,500 coming from fees paid by the residents anticipated to participate in the annual clean-up.
Alberty said when officials were addressing the budget, they estimated 100 vehicles would show up and the township could charge them each a fee of $25 per load, collecting a total of $2,500.
‘So therefore, half of this amount was really being subsidized by the township from our tax collection and revenue sharing, and half was being subsidized by the residents,? Alberty told this reporter.
Addison previously did not charge individual residents partaking in the clean-up.
The treasurer said he, Clerk Pauline Bennett and Koski had the idea to collect donations to help pay for the annual clean-up and eliminate the $25 per load fee.
The BP Gas Station and S & M Market at Rochester and 32 Mile Rd., Lakeville Inn, Smith’s Landing, businesses in the Lakeville Plaza and even Addison attorney Bob Bunting all donated money so those who wish to drop off unwanted items, like old water heaters, air conditioners, refrigerators and tires, won’t be charged that day.
Now, Alberty said he’s going to return all the donations.
‘I had to go out literally on my hands and knees for these people (to donate) because we’ve never done this before,? he said. ‘I didn’t do this for personal gain and I tried to get the rest of the board to help.?
Trustees Christine Sypitkowski and Claudia VonDrak rejected eliminating the $25 fee at Monday’s meeting.
Sypitkowski said not charging residents would be ‘kind of negating? previous board decisions ‘made not that long ago.?
VonDrak agreed with Sypitkowski.
‘The plan was always to charge the residents X-number of dollars,? she argued. ‘I’m as sensitive as anyone else is to charging our township citizens.?
Sypitkowski suggested cutting the fee in half instead of charging the full $25, but Alberty dismissed the idea because he told those donating he would try to get the board to completely waive the fee.
‘I don’t understand what gave you the authority when you’re asking for donations to say that you’re going to just do away with something this whole board voted on,? Sypitkowski stated.
Addison attorney Robert Davis agreed with Alberty. He said waiving the $25 fee would encourage more residents to participate in the Spring Clean Up.
‘This is an increase in people’s taxes that are going to use this service,? Alberty later told this reporter.
But VonDrak said she doesn’t have a problem paying to have something removed from her yard that she doesn’t want anymore.
‘Paying to get garbage and things picked up is part of what we do when we live in a country,? she told the board.
Numerous residents in the audience also voiced their opinions. Many said they would be more likely to drop off items if there was no charge, but Alberty said what’s done is done and all the donations will be returned. ‘I expect less people to show up, I expect there to be a lot more trash on the road,? he said. ‘The people that do show up here are going to be quite upset.?
Addison Township’s Spring Clean Up will be held Saturday, May 13 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the township complex (1440 Rochester Rd.).