Leader Publications urges Norton to rescind delivery ordinance; council clarifies rule prohibits leaving papers on ground

Janet Stoberman, circulation manager for Leader Publications, asked Norton City Council on June 2 to rescind a city ordinance she said prevents the Leader from resuming route delivery in Norton. Stoberman said delivery problems last year stemmed from an injured carrier and weather-related losses; she asked the council to rescind the ordinance to allow Leader carriers to restart deliveries.

"The leader of publication would like to start delivery again. But the only way this can be made possible is the ordinance is rescinded," Stoberman told council during the public-comment period.

Council members and staff responded that the city ordinance under discussion does not ban delivery by newspaper companies but requires that delivered materials not be left on the ground. Council members repeatedly characterized the ordinance as driven by litter and waterway pollution concerns and said it was intended to prevent papers from blowing into ditches and Wolf Creek. One council member summarized the rule: deliveries will not be prohibited, "it was just simply that they were gonna not to be left on the ground."

Stoberman said Leader Publications has eight routes covering Norton (described in testimony as "8 routes, 5 areas") and estimated the company has delivered in Norton for 35 years, with a conservative historical tally of roughly 5.5 million papers delivered to the community. She said operational problems in a specific route led to one carrier’s termination and that deliveries improved after the route was reassigned.

Council members suggested several operational approaches to reduce litter: asking customers to install small hooks to secure papers, providing carriers with low-cost adhesive fixes, stopping deliveries to vacant houses, and enforcing a one-paper policy at addresses. A council member noted the city can allow deliveries if they are secured and suggested a phased approach: prohibit drops on the street and require secure placement when no mailbox slot or hook exists.

Council and staff urged the publisher to work with administration staff and the street department on practical fixes; one council member offered to share a supplier contact for adhesive dots used to secure papers to boxes. The city did not schedule a vote to rescind the ordinance during the meeting; council members requested continued discussion with the publisher and administrative staff and noted the ordinance’s stated goal of reducing litter and protecting waterways.

Clarifying details raised at the meeting: Leader Publications stated it operates eight Norton routes and that most delivery problems followed an injured carrier; the company said it can provide hooks or adjust routes and asked the city to consider practical options. Council members emphasized the ordinance’s enforcement goal: no drops on roadways or unsecured deliveries that create litter or waterway pollution.