Yellow trash bags in Eureka Springs will soon be no more.
The city council voted 4-0 at its meeting held Monday, Feb. 12, to approve Ordinance 2348 on its third and final reading, revamping the city procedures for solid waste collections.
The new ordinance will go into effect 30 days after its official posting.
“Standard weekly trash service shall be for one 35-gallon container or one trash bag with a maximum capacity of 35 gallons,” the new ordinance reads. “If more than one container or bag is placed at the curb for disposal, it must be identified with a bag tag. Bag tags can be purchased for $2 each at City Hall or where designated by the city. Any overflow or excess bag of waste not marked with a bag tag will be left on the curb.”
After hearing during public comments that funds earned from the sale of the tags should go back into trash and recycling education, council member Harry Meyer suggested adding an amendment to the ordinance on the topic.
Council members agreed and Section 3 of the ordinance reads: “Net income from the bag tags will be contributed towards trash and recycling education.”
PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE
Simon Wiley, the city public works director, addressed an issue where sewage backed up in a residence on Alexander Street, reporting that a root was found in the system and was addressed the morning after the incident was reported.
“Our jetter truck is not working … so they didn’t jet it that night,” said Wiley, who added they had to wait for working equipment the next morning.
During public comments, council members heard reports that the residence was still having issue with sewage being backed up, but Wiley said that was news to him.
“As far as further calls of sewage still being backed up, I’m completely unaware of that happening,” Wiley said. “My staff has not told me that happened … I don’t really know if there’s any validity to that. Their cleanout was buried underneath their porch and my employees did dig out their cleanout and open it up to kind of relieve pressure off their house as soon as they got there.”
Wiley also reported to the council that his department has repaired 10 water lines this month, including six service lines and four main lines.
