Highland Heights will likely opt out of state fireworks law; council will renew garbage collection contract w - cleveland.com
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The city will likely join a growing list of communities to opt out of state House Bill 172 and continue to prohibit residents from setting off fireworks within Highland Heights.
City Council, during its meeting Tuesday (April 12), heard the first reading of legislation that would have it opting out of HB 172, and Mayor Chuck Brunello, Jr. said he and council favor doing so when the matter comes up for a vote.
HB 172 will allow Ohio residents to set off fireworks on and around certain holidays when the law takes effect July 1, but it also allows communities to opt out. Locally, cities such as University Heights, South Euclid, Mayfield Heights and Cleveland Heights have done so, while Richmond Heights, Mayfield Village and Gates Mills are among those discussing opting out.
“We think it makes the most sense to do so (opt out) and most municipalities are doing the same, they’re following suit,” Brunello said. “It’s not just about the ability to blow off fireworks, but it’s about the ability to sell them, as well. We don’t have that many stores that would carry them.”
Brunello added that stores, even if the city opts out, would be able to sell novelty items, such as sparklers. The mayor predicted the opt-out legislation would get council’s approval, perhaps after its second reading at the meeting scheduled for April 26. The legislation is now being studied in council’s Safety Committee.
Holidays during which fireworks will be permitted under HB 172 include New Year’s Day; Chinese New Year; Cinco de Mayo; Memorial Day weekend; Juneteenth; July 3, 4, and 5, and the Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays before and after July 4; Labor Day weekend; and Diwali (Hindu, Buddhist Festival of Light, Oct. 24).
Garbage collection contract
Also at its meeting Tuesday, City Council agreed in committee to renew the city’s curbside garbage and recycling collection contract with Kimble Companies.
“We only had two bidders,” Brunello said, “(Kimble) and Rumpke (Garbage Services), and Kimble came in at $800,000 less over five years than Rumpke did. Rumpke came in at about $4.8 million, and Kimble came in at about $4 million.”
Kimble has had the Highland Heights contract since the city switched to automated collection in 2015. The city will complete in June a five-year contract with Kimble that also included two option years. The new contract, also for five years, includes three additional, one-year options. Council will likely approve the new contract in May.
The new contract, Brunello said, does not include any changes in collection procedures.
“For the most part, given the staffing shortages and workforce struggles that have been ongoing, they have been pretty good with providing service to the city,” he said. “I think communication is key with these companies, so as long as they continue to communicate when things don’t get done, I think we’ll be OK.
“That’s one thing I stressed to them directly, they have to communicate with us if a street’s going to be missed or there’s a breakdown that interrupts service. We need to know about it. We’ve been pretty firm about that.
“Other than that, we’ve been pretty satisfied with their service.”
Kimble will charge Highland Heights $17.35 for collection at each household per year in the first year of the contract. The cost will increase with each subsequent year until it reaches $20.89 per household in year five.
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source: https://www.cleveland.com/community/2022/04/highland-heights-will-likely-opt-out-of-state-fireworks-law-council-will-renew-garbage-collection-contract-with-kimble.html
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