RIO COMMUNITIES — The city of Rio Communities council will soon decide if they want to approve a solid waste ordinance that would call for a single hauler to provide services.
The draft ordinance has been “published” and the council will vote on whether to adopt the ordinance at its regular 6 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, May 28.
“We have had several meetings with the attorneys, and we’ve had several workshops about this,” said Rio Communities Mayor Mark Gwinn at last week’s council meeting. “Once we approve the ordinance, we will start working on the RFP (request for proposals).
“I want to thank the planning and zoning, who also worked on this and had many meetings.”
According to the draft ordinance, which is on the city’s website, riocommunities.net, the city would “enter into a single exclusive franchise agreement, for the collection, haulage and disposal of solid waste from commercial, industrial, institutional and/or residential sources.”
The ordinance also states the (hauler) would directly bill and collect from the residential or commercial user.
“Every owner of real property being served within the city shall be responsible for the payment of the solid waste collection and disposal fees established and provided for by this chapter, whether or not the owner uses the solid waste collection and disposal services,” the proposed ordinance states.
If the owner fails or refuses to pay, a lien against the real property may be filed.
Some of the other requirements include:
• Garbage and trash shall be placed and maintained in collection containers as required by the city and provided by the city or the city’s franchised collector.
• It shall be the responsibility of all persons to dismantle and/or flatten all boxes or crates, regardless of construction, and to bundle all tree clippings, before placing in collection containers.
• Hazardous or construction materials shall not be placed in collection containers, and the producers of such materials will be required to individually contract with an independent franchised collector or hauler for the disposal of such waste:
• All garbage or trash shall be secured into plastic bags prior to disposal in the containers provided.
Clara Garcia is the editor and publisher of the Valencia County News-Bulletin.
She is a native of the city of Belen, beginning her journalism career at the News-Bulletin in 1998 as the crime and courts reporter. During her time at the paper, Clara has won numerous awards for her writing, photography and typography and design both from the National Newspaper Association and the New Mexico Press Association.
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April 19, 2024
