Editor, The News:
Re: Roadblocks to garbage pickup (Letters, Oct. 2).
I just think that the general public should have a say in the decisions that council seems to assume is its decision alone.
We are not children who need our superiors protecting us from dangerous waters. We are upstanding citizens who pay our bills and taxes, which pay for council’s help to do what is in the best interest for us all.
To deny a free estimate to find the real cost of this service is as much as saying. ‘We, the council, do not want this service to become a reality.’
Anyone who thinks their taxes will go up $370 a year is in dreamland.
If we pooled the cost, it would be much less than I am presently paying, which is just that and going up about three times a year.
I have at least four trucks a week passing my home for paid garbage collection, some of which have to travel here from out of town.
The smell and noise can be annoying, to say the least.
Do they not realize that everyone’s garbage could go out once a week and then it’s over till next time.
There are children playing and walking to school and dog walkers on streets with no sidewalks and all these garbage trucks running around. Every one has to dodge them or wait until they have passed by. It’s just not safe.
Port Coquitlam has had garbage collection for 50 years, back when that city had 3,000 residents. I know, I lived there. And don’t tell me to go back.
I’m all for progression.
Diana Briere
Maple Ridge
Pick up the phone
Editor, The News:
Re: Roadblocks to garbage pickup (Letters, Oct. 2).
I do not understand why some Maple Ridge citizens are so stuck on having municipal garbage collection. I know people like to think of the government taking care of them, but in this case it is quite simple and not worth the debate.
If you want your garbage collected, then pick up the phone and call one of the private enterprises who would be very happy to provide the service at quite a reasonable cost. Why would I want to channel more of my money through the municipal office where, even if they sub-contract to the very company I currently hire, it will cost me more than what I pay now due to administration and inefficiencies.
And if the town were to take over garbage collection and increase taxes accordingly, citizens will not be able to opt out. I like to have choices and I like to have as much control over my money as possible.
When I pay my waste disposal bill every quarter, I know my money is going to just that purpose and not into the black hole of the municipal coffers.
Karen Murray
Maple Ridge