The subject of trash removal has been a controversial one for the City of Delphi since the beginning of 2009. At that time the city council, with Mayor Randy Strasser’s recommendation, voted to charge a mandatory “user fee” for residents who received a water bill. The measure was deemed necessary in order for the city to recoup an anticipated loss of revenue from property taxes.

The enacted ordinance to establish the mandatory charge defined who would be required to participate and who would be exempt. In recent weeks there has been question about that definition.

The situation became even more contentious last week after Strasser agreed, independent of input or approval from the board of works or city council, to provide free trash hauling service to the Wabash & Erie Canal Interpretive Center, which originally was allowed to opt out of the mandatory program. The organization purchased trash removal services from a private vendor.

Whether the mayor has the authority to spend surplus money raised from user fees and extra-container tags without the consent of the board of works was the central topic of discussion at the Jan. 18 Delphi Board of Works meeting. Words were exchanged before the decision to withhold payment of the claim was made.

Board of works member Brian Garrison, after reviewing a list of claims for approval, raised a question about one for $70 to Indiana Waste Systems, the company contracted to provide trash hauling services to the city.

Strasser explained that the claim was to pay for trash removal for the Wabash & Erie Canal Interpretive Center. He agreed the city could save the organization the cost of the service, which would be paid for out of surplus solid waste money. He further explained the canal would host city workers and their families for a picnic.

Garrison questioned how the situation became a responsibility of the city and said he expected such an expense to be presented to the board of works prior to a city agreement. He questioned the legality of paying for an organization’s trash removal out of surplus money collected from residents.

“I don’t think that’s the proper way to do business,” he said.

Strasser replied that as mayor it was his prerogative to make spending decisions if money existed in a fund. He said there was roughly a $2,000 surplus in the city service. Funds in the account are generated from the mandatory $10 fee attached to all water bills and the money collected from the sale of tags for extra containers. He further indicated that he discussed the change in their duty and route with the provider and there was agreement.

“I thought we already had an established contract about what they were doing,” Garrison said.

Strasser explained he decided to provide free trash removal for the canal center because of the community service the organization provides. He said the canal center was not a business but a valuable part of the city.

“This is a part of the parks department,” he said.

Strasser said that the canal center’s cost for trash removal was cut in half from what the group had been paying to another vendor. He further explained that the city is providing mowing services to the canal center.

Garrison said that if the city is paying the total trash removal bill, the cost to the canal center becomes “zero,” which is a total cost savings for them. He said the board of works should be part of the plan about how to use the surplus money in the solid waste account.

“I’d like to be part of the discussion if I’m to come in and authorize it,” he added. “I think we should have been notified ahead of time about this,” board member Bob Conner said. “But I don’t have a problem with it if the money is there.”

In a two-to-one vote, the board of works members decided to hold the $70 check for trash removal for the canal center until the council can address the issue.

Strasser voted to pay the claim. In conclusion he said that to provide the service for free was a good decision because it “was for the public.”