Published: July 07, 2008 05:41 pm            

Letter to the editor - Tuesday, July 8, 2008

City wants $90 to replace tote

This letter is to advise all citizens of Kokomo to be aware of replacement charges on stolen trash totes. I set my tote out in my alley on June 21 because it was full. (My collection day is Monday). On June 22, I went out to mow my yard and discovered my tote was gone. On June 23, I called trash collection. I was told that I would need to call the Kokomo Police Department and obtain a case number, which I did. Police say they have no idea why totes are being stolen. I called back trash collection and they said they would replace it, but it could cost me $90. Since I have a small tote, I have no idea what replacement on a large one would cost.

On June 30, I called trash collection again, since I did not receive a tote. I was asked if I had paid my $90 replacement fee. The clerk told me that the city attorney, Mr. Sublette, has determined that citizens will be charged the above-mentioned fee for replacement. What I resent is that Mr. Sublette does not even have the intestinal fortitude to send honest taxpayers a letter advising on this. I am not telling the city how to run their railroad, but some form of communication from someone in authority should be sent to honest citizens denying their request for a replacement tote. This responsibility should not be left to some clerk. I thought the Gestapo tactics ended when King McKillip was defeated.

It is a shame that honest citizens and taxpayers are penalized by crime committed by someone else. I was initially told I was in violation of the city ordinance by setting my tote out prior to my day of collection. What if I was to be out of town or on vacation? Was I to have someone set out my trash? Dumb me. I kept my tote in the garage. The majority of the residents between Hoffer and Ricketts who live on Webster and Courtland who use the alley between these streets let their totes set out all the time. I challenge the mayor, my councilman or any other city official to drive my alley any day of the week and observe the number of totes sitting out permanently. I am sure this is not an unusual sight for the majority of Kokomo.

I can tell you this that the Democratic Party has just lost my vote in the upcoming November elections, and Mayor Goodnight (whom I voted for) has lost my vote when he runs again. It appears that the ballot is my only form of protest! Mr. Stephenson, I am sure you can attest to how important one vote is in Democratic politics. And I do vote in every primary and general election.

Fortunately, I have good, honest neighbors who don’t fill their totes, and I can still get rid of my trash. Does the city have a solution as to what I am supposed to do with it besides pay $90? How many other citizens have coughed up 90 bucks when our taxes already pay for this service? I am sure most people already feel they pay too much in taxes now. Why not offer a solution? I was told that putting my name and address on my tote appeared to be a deterrent to the thievery. Why were citizens not advised to do this?

Now, I am not naive enough to think that it is not expensive to replace lost, damaged or stolen totes, but someone should have anticipated these costs in the budgeting process originally and in future appropriations. If these costs are skyrocketing, then why not find out why? Simply ignoring the problem and taking the easy way out (charging taxpayers for replacement) is like throwing the baby out with the bath water. Ignore it and maybe it will go away is not a solution!

I wish my case adjudicated. I request a written denial from the City of Kokomo to replace my tote, my due process, and my appellate rights. There should be a policy and procedure in place to advise citizens in writing. I am sure I am not the first resident to face this dilemma.

Thomas G. Owens

Kokomo

        

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