Public Works Committee discusses dumpsters

LIMA — The Lima Public Works Committee was in agreement that something needs to be done about dumpsters presenting hazards on roadways.

The committee met Monday night to discuss reinforcing existing legislation and making it easier for residents to mark their dumpsters.

“We started to see a lot of dumpsters placed on the roadway without reflective tape or caution cones,” Lima City Council president Jamie Dixon said, addressing the committee. “Law director Tony Geiger prepared necessary legislation and we pulled Mayor Sharetta Smith in to make sure it doesn’t create a burden for residents doing work on their homes. But we need to watch out for the greater good, which is the safety of drivers.”

Councilman Derry Glenn brought up the issue to council when a driver suffered an accident due to a dumpster in the street that was not visible during the night.

Dixon said the problem often arises due to residents not having enough space on their property to hold the dumpsters and Glenn said the problem was an easy fix.

“This isn’t hurting anyone’s business if they just put some cones or reflectors on the dumpsters,” he said.

City engineer Ian Kohli said existing city codes call for contractors to have a permit to place the dumpsters off of private property, but agreed that forcing the dumpsters to have reflective tape would be suitable.

“It sounds like we’ve got stuff in place, it’s just outdated,” Councilwoman Carla Thompson said. “The solutions are simple. It’s just a matter of making sure we put the process in, codify it and make people aware of it. The tricky part is making sure we have a way to enforce it because it shouldn’t be hard to get a $10 permit fee and some reflective tape.”

Thompson said the committee will refer the issue back to the Council of the Whole at the next City Council meeting with a recommendation to look at old ordinances and revamp them.

Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.