TITLE V:  PUBLIC WORKS

CHAPTER 50.     GARBAGE AND RUBBISH

Section

50.01               Definitions

50.02               Sanitation collection service required

50.03               Container required; placement

50.04               Meddling with trash receptacles prohibited

50.05               Containers to be kept sanitary and secure

50.06               Unauthorized private collections prohibited

50.07               Sanitation service: city options

50.08               Rates and charges; collection and late payment

50.09               Removal of building materials

50.10               Prohibited acts

50.11               Non-residential customers; container types; collection schedules

50.12               Manner of collection and transportation

50.13               Licensing for collection

50.14               Collection of leaves, trees or tree limbs

Cross-reference:

Health and Safety; Nuisances, see Chapter 92

 

§ 50.01 DEFINITIONS.

        For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

        GARBAGE.  Organic refuse resulting from the preparation of food, and decayed and spoiled food from any source.

        RUBBISH.  All inorganic refuse matter such as tin cans, glass, paper, ashes, and the like.

 

§ 50.02 SANITATION COLLECTION SERVICE REQUIRED.

        Every person owning, managing, operating, leasing, or renting any premises or any place where garbage or rubbish accumulates shall subscribe to a sanitation collection service.

Penalty, see § 10.99

 

§  50.03 CONTAINER REQUIRED; PLACEMENT.

        (A) It shall be the duty of every person whose garbage and refuse is collected by the sanitation collection service to provide a container or containers for garbage and refuse, sufficient in size and number to accommodate and securely keep all garbage and refuse that may accumulate between collections.  Garbage containers shall be watertight and constructed of a solid and durable grade of metal, plastic, or paper material.

        (B) It shall be the duty of every person whose garbage and refuse is collected by the sanitation collection service to place their garbage containers directly behind the curbline of the street abutting their property or in the absence of a curb directly behind the ditch line abutting their property.  In no event   shall containers be placed in the street or on the sidewalk or in any manner placed where the containers will interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic.  It shall be the responsibility of the subscriber to place the containers no earlier than 6:00 p.m. of the afternoon preceding the collection day.

Penalty, see § 10.99

 

§ 50.04 MEDDLING WITH TRASH RECEPTACLES PROHIBITED.

        (A) It shall be unlawful to meddle with garbage cans, trash or rubbish receptacles or in any way pilfer, search or scatter contents of garbage cans or rubbish receptacles in or upon any street or alley within the city limits.

        (B) This section shall not apply to persons authorized by the city or persons authorized by state or federal law to search or otherwise meddle with trash receptacles.

Penalty, see § 10.99

 

§ 50.05 CONTAINERS TO BE KEPT SANITARY AND SECURE.

        All containers shall be kept clean and free from accumulation of any substance remaining attached to the inside of the container which would attract or breed flies, mosquitoes, or other insects.  The area surrounding garbage containers shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.  The contents of all receptacles shall be protected so that the wind cannot scatter the contents over the streets, alleys or other property within the city.  All containers shall be securely closed in a manner as to prevent the scattering of the contents and to make them inaccessible to insects, rodents and other animals.

Penalty, see § 10.99

 

§ 50.06 UNAUTHORIZED PRIVATE COLLECTIONS PROHIBITED.

        (A) It shall be unlawful for any person to transport garbage or refuse for hire which has been collected from any premises within the city over any public street within the city.

        (B) This section shall not apply to any person who at the time of the activity is operating under a valid contract or franchise granted by the city which authorizes that person to use the public streets to conduct that activity.

Penalty, see § 10.99

 

§ 50.07 SANITATION SERVICE: CITY OPTIONS.

        The City Council may provide for sanitation collection services within the city by use of city employees and vehicles, or it may grant licenses under the terms and conditions of § 50.13, or it may contract with one or more contractors for the provision of these services under the terms and conditions negotiated with the contractors, except that the provisions for insurance under § 50.13 (E) shall always apply.

 

§ 50.08 RATES AND CHARGES; COLLECTION AND LATE PAYMENT.

        If the city collects charges for the collection, removal and disposal of garbage and trash within the city, the following provisions apply:

        (A) Generally.  The monthly charge for the collection, removal and disposal of garbage and trash from residences and businesses within the corporate limits of the city shall be as established by the Ordinance Establishing Fees and Charges adopted pursuant to § 30.11 of this code, as that ordinance may be amended from time to time.

        (B) Collection of charges.  The charges fixed herein for the collection, removal and disposal of all garbage and trash shall be entered in their respective amounts on the utility bill.  The city may discontinue all utility services, including water, sewer, and garbage and trash services, for failing to pay any assessed charges and until the charges have been paid in full under conditions and procedures detailed in division (C) of this section.

        (C) Disconnection for late payment.

               (1) It is the policy of the city to discontinue utility service to customers by reason of nonpayment of bills only after notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard on disputed bills.  The city’s form for application for utility service and all bills shall contain, in addition to the title, address, room number, and telephone number of the official in charge of billing, clearly visible and easily readable provisions to the effect:

(a)      That all bills are due and payable on or before the date set forth on the bill;

                             (b)  That if any bill is not paid by or before that date, a second bill will be mailed containing a cutoff notice that if the bill is not paid within ten days of the mailing of the second bill, service will be discontinued for nonpayment; and

                     (c) That any customer disputing the correctness of his or her bill shall have a right to a hearing at which time he or she may be represented in person and by counsel or any other person of his or her choosing and may present orally or in writing his or her complaint and contentions to the city official in charge of utility billing.  This official shall be authorized to order that the customer’s service not be discontinued and shall have the authority to make a final determination of the customer’s complaint.

               (2) Requests for delays or waiver of payment will not be entertained; only questions of proper and correct billing will be considered.  In the absence of payment of the bill rendered or resort to the hearing procedure provided herein, service will be discontinued at the time specified, but in no event until the charges have been due and unpaid for at least 30 days.

               (3) When it becomes necessary for the city to discontinue utility service to a customer for nonpayment of bills, service will be reinstated only after all bills for service then due have been paid, along with a turn-on charge as established by the Ordinance Establishing Fees and Charges adopted pursuant to § 30.11 of this code, as that ordinance may be amended from time to time

            (D) Cold weather rule.  Pursuant to M.S. § 216B.097, as it may be amended from time to time, no service of a residential customer shall be disconnected if the disconnection affects the primary heat source for the residential unit when the disconnection would occur during the period between October 15 and April 15, the customer has declared inability to pay on forms provided by the city, the household income of the customer is less than 185% of the federal poverty level as documented by the customer to the city, and the customer’s account is current for the billing period immediately prior to October 15 or the customer has entered into a payment schedule and is reasonably current with payments under the schedule.  The City Clerk shall, between August 15 and October 15, of each year, notify all residential customers of these provisions. 

 

§ 50.09 REMOVAL OF BUILDING MATERIALS.

        Waste from building operations, rock waste, building materials or other refuse resulting from building or remodeling operations or resulting from a general cleanup of vacant or improved property shall be removed by the building contractor, owner or occupant of the building at his or her own expense.  It shall be unlawful for any person to place those materials in any dumpster or other trash receptacle for disposal by the city or any agent or contractor of the city.

Penalty, see § 10.99

 

§ 50.10 PROHIBITED ACTS.

        (A) It shall be unlawful for any person to sweep, throw or deposit any garbage, trash, debris, stagnant water or dead animal into, upon or along any public property or private property of another, except as may be specifically provided by this chapter.

        (B) It shall be unlawful for any person owning or otherwise in control of any premises within the city to permit any of the conditions described in division (A) to exist upon property owned or controlled by him or her after having actual or constructive notice thereof.

        (C) It shall be unlawful for any person to place in any container any material other than as specifically provided in this chapter.

        (D) It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit or maintain garbage or trash except as provided for by this chapter.

        (E) It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit any burning match, charcoal, ember, or other material in any container used for the disposal of garbage.

Penalty, see § 10.99

 

§ 50.11 NON-RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS; CONTAINER TYPES; COLLECTION SCHEDULES.

        (A) It shall be the duty of the owner or person otherwise in charge of multi-family, institutional or industrial premises within the city to cause all garbage and trash accumulated on the premises to be   placed in disposable containers, or commercial-type containers.  Commercial-type containers may be   used and may be placed at a location on the premises as arranged between the customer and the collector, but subject to review by the city at any time.

        (B) Disposable containers shall be placed at a location on the premises which is readily accessible to the collector.

        (C) The amount and character of garbage shall be considered in establishing size of commercial containers and frequency of pickup.  The city shall have final authority to establish the size and   frequency based on the history of amount and type of garbage generated by the customer.  The collection and removal of garbage and trash from premises used for commercial, institutional, or industrial   purposes shall be made as often as necessary in order to maintain the premises free of accumulations.  Garbage, except dry trash in contractor-supplied containers, shall be collected not less than one time each week, except for roll-off containers which shall not be subject to this provision so long as they are used solely for brush and dry trash.

Penalty, see § 10.99

 

§ 50.12 MANNER OF COLLECTION AND TRANSPORTATION.

        (A) The collection, removal and disposal of all garbage, trash and brush shall be carried on in a systematic, efficient manner to keep the city in a clean and sanitary condition.

        (B) All vehicles used for the collection and transportation of garbage and trash shall be equipped with suitable covers which shall be used to prevent blowing or scattering of refuse while garbage and trash are being transported for disposal.

Penalty, see § 10.99

 

§ 50.13 LICENSING FOR COLLECTION.

        (A) Purpose.  In order to provide for a continuous system of refuse collection and disposal in a manner which meets the needs and conveniences of the residents of the city and in order to protect the area from the problems of uncoordinated, unsanitary and improper solid waste disposal, the City Council may determine that it is in the best interests of the residents of the city to require licenses of persons collecting or hauling garbage and rubbish for hire, reserving to the city the right and authority to contract with one or more operators to provide these services.

        (B) Licensing.  No person may collect or haul garbage or rubbish within the city without first obtaining a written license from the City Council.  An application for a license shall be submitted in writing to the City Clerk, and shall contain the following information:

(1)     Name and address of the applicant;

(2)     Description of the equipment which will be used within the city by the applicant;

               (3) A schedule of the rate that will be charged by the applicant for the various categories of customers within the city;

               (4) Evidence of compliance with the other applicable sections of this chapter.

        (C) Franchise. The City Council may exercise its reserved right to contract with one or more operators for the collection of garbage and rubbish within the city.

        (D) Suspension of license or contract. A contract or license issued under the provisions of this   section may be revoked or suspended for a violation of this chapter or other applicable regulations of law upon a showing that the contractor or licensee has failed to comply with that regulation.

        (E) Financial responsibility. The licensee or contractor shall show financial responsibility or a certificate of insurance coverage prior to obtaining the license or franchise whereby each vehicle to be used by the licensee or contractor shall be covered against loss or injury in the following amounts: $300,000 when the claim is one for death by wrongful act or omission and $300,000 to any claimant in any other case; $1,000,000 for any number of claims arising out of a single occurrence.  The licensee      or contractor shall hold the city harmless and agrees to defend and indemnify the city, and the city’s employees and agents, for any claims, damages, losses, and expenses related to the work under the   license or contract.  The city shall be named as an additional insured under that insurance for the services provided under the license or contract.  The licensee’s or contractor’s insurance shall be the primary insurance for the city and the licensee or contractor shall provide a certificate of insurance on the city’s approved form which verifies the existence of the insurance required, including provisions to hold the   city harmless and defend and indemnify the city.  The licensee or contractor shall also provide evidence   of workers compensation insurance for employees.  These insurance policies shall be for the full term      of the license or franchise and shall provide for the giving of ten days prior notice to the city of the termination or cancellation of these policies.  In case any policies are terminated or cancelled, the license or contract shall be automatically revoked upon receipt by the City Clerk of the termination or cancellation.

        (F) Design of equipment. All trucks or motor vehicles used by the licensee or contractor shall be water-tight so as not to allow the leakage of liquids or refuse while hauling the same and shall be covered with a covering to prevent the scattering of its contents upon the public streets or private properties in    the city.

        (G) Inspections. All vehicles used for garbage or rubbish shall be made available for inspection   within the city at the times and places as the City Council may designate.

        (H) Bond. The contractor or licensee may be required to furnish a surety bond in an amount as the City Council deems necessary running to and approved by the City Council, guaranteeing the   franchisee’s or licensee’s faithful and continuous performance of the terms of the franchise, license or contract and of this chapter.

 

§ 50.14 COLLECTION OF LEAVES, TREES OR TREE LIMBS.

        Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the collection for hire by other persons of leaves, trees or tree limbs.