Athens, Ohio: "Report from the Slums."
36 First Street. Why???
Saturday, 12/13/08 (5 days after garbage pick-up on Monday)
In late September, I contacted the code office and later contacted Michael Gosnell (Athens full-time solid waste control inspector) to report that the residents of 36 First leave their garbage cans and recycling bins in front of their house 24/7.
As I understand it, the ordinance requires that garbage cans and recycling bins must be stored out of sight except on garbage days when they may be placed at the curb (beginning at dusk the evening before.) Michael e-mailed me saying that he had given permission to the residents of this house to leave their cans/bins out in front of their house because of their "challenging terrain." However, he says he also told them that the containers should be kept neat and orderly.
This became a source of frustration for me because, as a neighbor, I have to look at their cans all week long. And I didn't feel I could even say anything to them about it because they had already been given permission from Michael to leave them out front.
I don't think the code reads "unless it's inconvenient" or "unless you have a challenging terrain." Yes, at times, the cans/bins are neatly arranged in front of the house (less than 5 feet from the sidewalk.) But even when they are neatly arranged, it's unsightly to have 6 to 8 cans and orange bins sitting there all week long, some with graffiti painted on them, others overflowing mid-week with beer cans and beer bottles and cardboard and beer cartons. And, of course, on windy days some of those items end up scattered in the neighborhood. And then there's the smell of sour beer, and the flies and yellow jackets they attract in warmer weather.
Saturday, 12/13/08 (another view) (5 days after Monday's garbage pick-up).
Yes, they've been here all week long. Just like this. We all have to look at it all the time. When we walk past the house we have to navigate the sidewalk to avoid bumping into their cans and bins. We have to smell the stale beer in the bins. And don't forget the flies and yellow jackets (no rats that I've seen so far.)
Note (above) that some of the bins are on the sidewalk. Hardly neatly arranged against the house. Once when I parked my car in my short drive and the back end partly blocked the sidewalk, I received a ticket.
Saturday, 12/20/08 (a week later). Again, this is 5 days after our Monday garbage pick-up.
Notice that at some point on last Sunday or Monday (12/15/08), someone came and put out some new trash (thanks) but then left the cans/bins there the rest of the week.
Also, please notice some of the litter that's visible in this picture: from broken orange plastic pumpkin ornaments for the decorator string lights, to cardboard, unidentifiable broken plastic, etc.
Notice the still-full recycling bin (next to the phone pole) which was put out on Monday (12/15) after the recycling guys already came by. It stays there on the curb until the next Monday (12/22). (I do appreciate the fact that these people recycle.)
This still-filled recycling bin may belong to the residents of 34 First or maybe 34 1/2 First St. which is a garage apartment sitting behind 36 First. It's difficult to know which bins and cans belong to whom. However, all three houses share the same landlord: Todd and Sarah Grace of Grace Rentals, LLC.
Here's how their website describes 36 First Street: Very cool 3 bedroom house with a finished basement for extra space. This house has a porch, back yard, W/D, and a great location. No pets please, $375/person/month for 3 people ($1125/month).
Really? "A great location" ?? (the epicenter of a slum)? "Very cool" ? No, Todd and Grace, it actually is not cool that you're grossing $13,500 a year in rental income from this property (and grossing $34,800 a year from all 3 houses) while subjecting the residents of this neighborhood to this on-going mess. (ALSO, when it's convenient, you may want to check on this property sometime because the siding is currently falling off of your house.)
Saturday, 12/20/08 (a week later, again, 5 days after garbage pick-up on Monday)
Note that at some point, the residents came and put out some new trash (thanks) and then left the cans/bins there the rest of the week.
Also, please note the litter that's visible in this picture, from broken orange plastic pumpkin ornaments for the decorator string lights, to cardboard, unidentifiable broken plastic, etc.
Note the recycling bin that was put out on Monday after the recycling guys already came by. It stays there on the curb until the next Monday. (I do appreciate the fact that these people recycle.)
This bin could belong to the residents of 34 1/2 First St. which is a garage apartment sitting behind 36 First. It's difficult to know which bins and cans belong to whom. They all share the same landlord. Todd and Sarah Grace.
Sunday 12/21/08 Once again, someone has come and put out new trash. This time, on Sunday early afternoon. Of course, this is several hours before dusk and, legally, too EARLY for our Monday morning garbage pick-up. And unfortunately, we had a horrendous wind storm that day as the temperatures plummeted. The two garbage cans have already blown over. (These may belong to 34 1/2). Litter from the yard and bins/cans blows throughout the neighborhood.
MONDAY 12/22/08 Garbage Day. 6-degrees outside. Notice that the windstorm on Sunday blew over the recycling bin and its contents are now scattered. The resident from 34 1/2 First walked to his car, past the 2 overturned garbage cans and left, without setting them upright. I believe at least one of them is his.
While I was out taking these pictures, (Athens Mayor) Paul Wiehl walked by on his way to town. I explained to him the problem. Immediately, he pulled out his cell phone and called Michael Gosnell and asked him to come over. Michael arrived a few minutes later in his red truck (which I had never before seen--though I know he must occasionally patrol First Street.)
It was bitterly cold and Paul continued to town while I talked to Michael and explained the problem to him, reminding him that I had e-mailed him weeks ago and that I had met him in the Clean Committee meetings. I gave him a tour of the front, side, and back yards. I showed him the level spot at the back of the house where they could store their cans/bins. (SEE PIC ABOVE). He was surprised to see that there was, all along, a less "challenging terrain" available to the residents of this house.
HOWEVER... Michael told me that during the school breaks, if he leaves a warning notice on the front door of a house and comes back a few days later and it's still there, he's reluctant to give them a ticket. (What?!!!)
I'm amazed. If I leave my car illegally parked and go out of town for 6 weeks, I shouldn't be surprised to come back and find that it has been ticketed (perhaps repeatedly) and then towed. The tickets may cost $20 or $30 per day (depending on the violation). And the towing will cost a state-mandated $90... Plus $12/day storage until the car is picked up.
This means that after 5 or 6 weeks, an abandoned car could end up costing the owner perhaps $550 or more: ($100 in tickets; $90 for towing; and $12/day x 30+ days = $360+ for storage.)
I see little difference in abandoning a car and abandoning your garbage cans and recycling bins. There are some basic responsibilities that come with home ownership or apartment rental.
Besides, in this case, the residents of this house (or their friends) do come back at least once a week to put out more recycling and garbage. They simply don't come back the next day to put away the bins.
Michael and I probably disagree on this issue, but my feeling is that after a warning, the tickets should continue daily ($20, $40, $100 or whatever the escalating scale is) until the problem is corrected. If Michael is charitable, he might contact the residents (or call the landlord if they have not provided the names/contact info for tenants as required) and let them know that they are accumulating what may be a $1000+ fine. If I lived in Cleveland and received a call from the City or from my landlord and was told that I might end up with a $1000 fine, I'd either call or email all my friends who might still be in Athens and offer to pay them to go over and clean up the mess, or I'd drive down and remedy the problem myself. Regardless, just because these people may be out of town does not, in my mind, absolve them from responsibility for their property and garbage and litter problems. I imagine they make arrangements to stop their mail and pay their utility bills while they are away. They should also make arrangements to take care of their yards. If I were out town for the summer, I'd have to get someone to mow the lawn and look in on the house. Why shouldn't they do the same?
When I asked why we should endure this unsightly mess for weeks at a time, he asked if I "couldn't just wait another week-and-a-half ?" (Presumably when the residents will return to Athens to generate more garbage.)
A week-and-a-half is 25% of the 6-week OU break. Why can't something be done now, I wonder? (I gave Michael the name of the landlords -- Todd and Sarah Grace.) Besides, the ordinance doesn't read "...unless you're out of town."
I did suggest to Michael that before major breaks he could run a newspaper ad explaining to students what they can expect to happen if they leave their garbage cans out for 6 weeks (i.e. you may accumulate a multi-hundred-dollar fine.) He thought the ad might be a good idea.
MONDAY 12/22/08 This is the way the front yard looked while Michael and I talked. Later, the garbage truck came by and removed the garbage bags. But notice the black plastic broken coat hanger at the right of the cans. It's been there for weeks and is still there on the sidewalk (it was finally removed on Wednesday morning, 12/31/08).
BUT WHY IS THIS HOUSE BEING GIVEN A "WARNING" AT ALL? There is no "education" that needs to take place here by issuing a "warning." Any sensible, thinking person knows that this landscape is unacceptable. And Michael admits he already told these tenants months ago that they had to keep their cans and bins orderly. So why not just issue a ticket or multiple tickets on the very first day--one for each of the cans and bins, another for the litter? (In my mind, the only reason to issue a warning is to let these tenants know that Michael has decided that it is no longer acceptable to store the containers in the front of the house.) The "disorderly containers" need no warning. The litter needs no warning.
And here's the BACKYARD of 36 First St. Notice the almost perfectly flat area next to the house where the residents have managed to set up chairs even with their "challenging terrain."
QUESTION: Are these chairs considered "litter" when they've blown over and are scattered throughout the yard and left that way for weeks at a time?
Of course, even if stored back here, the garbage cans/recycling bins are going to need some sort of corral to keep them socialized. Perhaps a 4-foot-fence or privacy screen could be built by Grace Rentals, LLC.
NOTE: To go directly to the City of Athens ON-LINE LITTER COMPLAINT FORM, CLICK HERE
Then, BOOKMARK it so you can find it when you need it. It's almost impossible to find on the city's website.
Monday, 12/8/08
Garbage Pick-Up Day
Monday, 12/15/08
Garbage Pick-Up Day
