In our zeal to become the No. 1 most livable state capital and dethrone the metropolis of Montpelier, Vt., we have budgeted $27 million each year over the next 10 years for capital-intensive projects. This is over and above the annual city operating budget.
It’s a challenging task to identify and appropriate the funds needed to address all of the terrible infrastructure deficits in Concord, but the city administration is dauntless in its quest to usurp Montpelier’s crown.
This is all well and good. It takes guts and lots of other people’s money to become the shining capital on the hill.
Somewhere in this equation, something is missing. Let’s talk trash. Really trashy talk.
If you frequently travel on Storrs Street (I’ve gotten used to it since Main Street has been detoured there for more than two years), you may have noticed that the charity clothing collection box on the periphery of the Capitol Shopping Center parking lot has been removed. It had become an alternate garbage dump to some people.
Its removal has not stopped people from dropping off all sorts of rubbish, including electronic items and other hazardous materials. They just dump it on the pavement and it becomes someone else’s problem.
What’s this got to do with Montpelier. Not much – but not so fast. The city administration, in its zealotry to be the No. 1 livable state capital city, has posted draconian rules and regulations at the city trash transfer station.
I’m not one to disregard the environmental degradation caused by lethal chemicals found in some appliances, and care should be taken to dispose of these in a safe and responsible manner. The question becomes, at what cost?
The city apparently feels that those costs should be borne by Concord citizens.
The city transfer station’s list of the costs of special items to be disposed range from $10 to $25 for each item. This is over and above their charge for regular trash disposal.
It’s all pure nonsense. I just illustrated how human nature works on Storrs Street.
Some people cannot or will not pay those prices to responsibly dispose of televisions, air conditioners or a sofa. They will end up on some rural road, in the woods or in midnight raids on commercial dumpsters.
If we can budget $27 million a year for capital-intensive improvements, we can certainly reduce the fee for disposing of these items. I suggest a flat fee of $5 per special item. It’s a fair price, and the environment and all of us are winners. Just a teeny-weeny part of that $27 million from the capital-intensive projects will cover any additional costs to the city to dispose of these items.
Watch out, Montpelier: That’s us in your rearview mirror.
(Jim Baer lives in Concord.)