Clute council hears complaints about mattress dumping; staff to bring ordinance charging for pickup

Clute City Council members on Sept. 25 discussed a large, recurring problem with discarded mattresses and couches around the city and directed staff to prepare an ordinance to begin charging for mattress and furniture pickup. Residents and council members described hundreds of mattresses on streets and in neighborhoods. Councilmember comments and staff responses during the accounts-payable discussion noted a recent one-time hauling payment of $4,500 to remove a large quantity of mattresses; council and staff said the city did not pay the landfill fee for that removal, and the contractor was paid a flat haulage amount. The council discussion centered on how to deter repeated dumping. Councilmembers said past pickup practices had created the expectation that the city would remove bulky items at no charge; after the recent large removal the city stopped routine free pickups because of cost. One councilmember said the city will "bring to you an ordinance that says we're gonna start charging for mattresses and furniture pickup," and staff confirmed an ordinance will be prepared for council consideration. Staff and council discussed alternatives and clarifications: whether to require property owners or tenants to arrange removal, how to document large haul events in accounts-payable records so council members can see what is being purchased, and whether the city could haul items itself at lower cost. City staff said the most recent $4,500 payment covered flat haulage only and did not include landfill tipping fees paid by the contractor. No formal policy change was adopted at the meeting. The council approved the consent agenda (which included accounts-payable items that covered recent hauling costs) by unanimous vote; councilmembers reiterated they wanted clearer line-item notes for large expenditures so they could quickly see the reason for a high-cost item. The council requested staff to return with a proposed ordinance and related operational details (pricing, who is eligible, whether to require advance scheduling or proof of residency) before any change becomes effective.