Malta City Council deals with grass-can issues

At the last Malta City Council meeting, Malta Mayor Shyla Jones asked if Public Works had any extra garbage cans for grass clippings and if so, could they could be placed around town for town residents to dispose of clippings, according to the meeting’s minutes.

What followed was a “long discussion” about the amount of grass clippings being collected and whom, exactly, the cans are set on city streets for.

Last Thursday, Lorie Bond, Malta City Clerk and Treasurer explained that the cans are intended for elderly citizens and people who do not have access to a pickup for hauling grass clippings. She explained that many people, including commercial gardeners, who are filling the cans today are not elderly and are dumping clippings from the back of their trucks into the cans.

“People are supposed to be taking their clippings, free of charge, to the landfill,” she said. “It is free to do so.”

Mayor Jones asked that letters be sent to commercial lawn mowing business owners who are using the grass collection cans and request that they instead haul the grass to the city landfill.

“We just need to educate people on who the cans are intended for,” Bond said.

During the Public Works portion of the meeting, Jim Truelove – who was named Public Works Director at the same meeting via an unanimous vote by the council members – said that the pool was closed for a few days in June while the Public Works team replaced the pool’s circulation pump. Truelove also let the council know that he would be meeting with the Corp of Engineers to do a walkthrough of the dike along the Milk River and that the crew was busy getting the area ready for inspection.

Last Thursday, the Corp of Engineers were in town and Truelove told the PCN that the inspection came off without a hitch.

Mayor Jones also informed the Council that the new slide at Trafton Park has been a big hit with children.

During the “other comment” portion of the meeting, Councilwoman Bonnie informed the Council that there was a garbage can located under a residence’s kitchen window that had a strong odor of cat litter. After much discussion it was decided that the person whose cats produced a large amount of dirty cat litter will be given a 96 gallon garbage can to use and she will be instructed to place the garbage can at the end of her driveway on Mondays and Thursdays for pick up. Mayor Jones asked Clerk Bond to send the individual a letter stating the Council’s decision.

Also during the “other comment” portion of the meeting, Councilman David Rummel stated that it was great to see all of the people in town for the car show, drag races and other events.

During the “new business” portion of the meeting, Mayor Jones asked Council to sponsor the Fourth of July fireworks again this year. A motion was unanimously passed in favor of the sponsorship.