Stevens
CLAYTON — Due to budget constraints the city of Clayton curtailed some public programs, including the 2024 fall leaf collection program.
Some residents are upset that the city chose to suspend the program while still operating the Meadowbrook a Clayton Golf Course, which has required funding from the general budget to remain open.
Residents have been advised to bag their leaves and place them out with their trash. The city’s new waste hauler, Rumpke Waste & Recycling, has agreed to dispose of the leaves.
Scott Grimes addressed council about its decision to suspend the fall leaf collection program. He stated that in his neighborhood he would typically have 15 to 25 bags of leaves per week that would need to be hauled away.
“Is Rumpke going to be willing to pick up 15 to 25 bags at my curbside every week?” Grimes asked.
City Manager Amanda Zimmerlin said that the city’s contract stipulates that from October 1 through December 15 Rumpke will collect leaves.
“We spoke with our local (Rumpke) representative and she said it would not be an issue and that they would be able to accommodate that,” Zimmerlin said.
Grimes felt that bagging leaves was a lot of extra work, especially for someone his age who has to bag them and drag them out to the curb.
It’s not fun and it’s not easy, so what’s going to happen when people stop doing this? Our properties are going to go to crap,” Grimes said. “Our neighborhood is going to look like crap. Have you guys considered any other options for leaf pick up or cutting the budget?”
Grimes asked why the city continues to pump money into Meadowbrook at Clayton while it cuts services that people need. He said that when the tax levy came up a lot of people he talked to wondered why the city was asking for more money while it continued to run a golf course that is only being used by maybe 10 or 20 percent of the city’s residents.
“A lot of people call it, ‘The Good Ol’ Boys’ Club’ over there,” Grimes said. “I think it’s a legitimate concern. If you want to pass a tax levy you’ve got to get in front of this and tell people why we need Meadowbrook at Clayton, why do we need a golf course, why do we need that building, especially now that we have suspended all activities over there? Why do we need this?”
Grimes asked if the city could sell that property and use the money to fund some of the programs that have been suspended by the city.
Mayor Mike Stevens told Grimes the city warned residents there would be consequences if the tax levy failed, but he noted the city did not want to increase taxes either.
“Everyone up here lives in Clayton too,” Stevens said. “We don’t want more taxes either. Unfortunately, there is very little revenue that comes into a city. Meadowbrook is one that we get revenue in there. Other ways are generally grants and things like that, or bonds, or taxes. We are trying to make the best monetary decision that we can in that aspect.”
Stevens also noted that where he lives in Valley Brook there are tons of trees, including oaks and sycamores with huge leaves that will create an issue for residents to deal with. Stevens said that Councilmember Ken Henning had proposed that the city consider having one leaf collection in the fall to address these concerns.
“We may be able to revisit having one pick up,” Stevens said. “I would be willing to open up that conversation. Whether or not we can get that, I don’t know. We have not talked about logistics, or the money.”
He noted that collecting leaves costs more than you would expect. Last year it cost the city approximately $60,000 to run the leaf collection program and this year the cost would increase to about $69,800.
Grimes asked how the city could justify subsidizing Meadowbrook for $180,000 while cutting services residents need. Zimmerlin pointed out that Meadowbrook does generate revenue for the city while the other parks, which cost $150,000 annually to operate, do not generate any revenue.
Stevens said the city would revisit the leaf collection program to see if there was a way to implement a limited collection schedule to address residents’ concerns.
Reach Ron Nunnari at (937) 684-9124 or email [email protected].
