Creston residents pushing a substantial amount of grass, leaves or other debris from their residences into streets or alleys will soon be fined a minimum of $200.
This amendment to the city debris ordinance is in the works, and during Tuesday’s Creston City Council meeting, the council approved 6-0 a public hearing on the matter to be held during the next meeting.
“Basically, the impact of this is (debris) ends up in the storm sewers,” said Jim Bristow, Creston waste water superintendent, during the Aug. 2 meeting. “Everything that does go into the storm sewer system ends up in Hurley Creek, which ends up in McKinley Lake.”
The ordinance will be amended to make it unlawful for a person to throw or deposit grass, leaves, soil, rocks, trash or other debris into any street or alley.
The purpose of the amendment is to eliminate substances in streets or alleys that are likely to injure a person or animal, cause damage to a vehicle or clog the storm sewer.
At the Aug. 2 meeting, Creston Police Chief Paul Ver Meer said debris in a street or alley from a residence will be considered a violation if the debris is at least 4 feet wide and 2 inches deep.
Under the amendment, if any city employee or official is made aware of such a violation, he or she should take pictures and document the date and time. Then, the landowner of the adjacent property to the street or alley will be assessed a cleanup or storm sewer assessment fee that is a minimum of $200 plus a charge of $100 per hour that is required for any street cleanup or storm-sewer cleaning.
Any property owners who do not provide payment as required will be assessed by the city for such costs, which will be collected in the same manner as general property taxes.
Before the amendment takes effect, the council will hold a public hearing and do three readings. The public hearing is scheduled 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6.
Storage containers
After consideration of a drafted ordinance on exterior storage containers and trailers during the Aug. 2 city council meeting, Brad Johnson with BJ Storage in Creston approached the council with concerns about the ordinance during Tuesday’s meeting.
“I believe these storage containers are probably one of the best methods of storage that’s offered today,” Johnson said. “They’re durable, they’re water-tight, ... all things you can’t get with a typical building or even a little portable shed.”
While Johnson has a stake in the matter as the owner of a storage company, he said he agrees with Mayor Gary Lybarger’s statement during the Aug. 2 meeting that run-down storage units are not fit for neighborhoods.
“The used containers that have been in circulation for probably the past 10 years – that’s where you find the dents, scratches, rust ... which isn’t feasible for residential areas; it’s unsightly,” Johnson said. “I’ve tried to discourage this from happening if somebody comes to ask about purchasing one in a residential area, which really doesn’t happen very often. I try to avoid it because I don’t want the junk showing up in town. I don’t want to cause that problem.”
However, Johnson argued new storage units should be allowed in residential areas on a temporary basis.
“As far as new containers go, I believe they’re probably a far better choice than what I’m seeing for the little sheds being offered today. I don’t think those are going to last more than 10, 15 years the way I’m seeing them constructed,” he said. “Plus, most people utilize these containers and then want to get rid of them as soon as possible because they’re tired of paying rent on them. It’s not a cheap process.”
Johnson said he only knows of three containers on residential properties in Creston that are not temporary and four that are temporary, so he doesn’t think it is a major problem as of now.
After hearing Johnson’s concerns and his request to allow people in residential areas to use new, well-kept storage units on a temporary basis, the council agreed to include Johnson in further discussions on the proposed storage-unit ordinance.
A committee is being formed to discuss the ordinance further, and it will be brought before the council at a future meeting.
In other Creston City Council news:
• The council set a public hearing for 6 p.m. Sept. 6 regarding an easement request from Aureon Technology to place buried cable in city right of way.
• The council approved the naming of the City of Creston depositories.
• The council approved the annual street finance report.
• The council approved a new route and street closures for the Southern Prairie YMCA’s annual Balloon Days walk/run.