Town Council thinks changing up the way grass clippings are picked up in St. Paul will help make things fair for those who need the service. Council voted in a recent town hall meeting to modify the program which originally saw residents who have medical conditions, seniors and others have their grass clippings picked up for free. A new program would add a $5 dollar fee to the service. Council is hoping the charge will help curb unauthorized use of the program. St. Paul Mayor Maureen Miller says that charge would help with accountability with both the public and local government.
“It has been brought to our attention that, possibly, there are flags that people have moved and grass was picked up. Initially it was a great idea but there was really no way of tracking it.”
Council is also hoping that a fee will encourage the use of the transfer station for more recycling opportunities. The new program will get ride of the flags in favor for stickers which could be purchased from the town office. Mayor Miller says putting a couple of bucks towards the service will help keep the people who actually need the program happy.
“How do we make it so that the people who need it have access to it? If you pay for your flag, you probably wont give it to your neighbor.”
Mayor Miller says she has yet to hear any negative feedback around the idea. St. Paul Town Council plans to have a peek at the waste collection bylaw in the near future.