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Elyria council approves sanitation-rate change but members urge clearer language on extra pickups
Summary
Council passed an ordinance amending sanitation rules that keeps an existing per-pickup extra-charge and a $25 crew fee; members asked staff to clarify whether the charge is assessed per occurrence or by a recurring period and noted they may revisit the language.
Elyria City Council on Dec. 1 passed an ordinance amending Chapter 9.59 of the Elyria Codified Ordinances to create provisions for sanitation rates and collections, but several members said the city should clarify how an 'additional pickup' charge is applied.
Councilmember (speaker 2) asked whether the additional charge described in subsection (a) is assessed within a month, per week or per pickup. Law Director Dirie responded that the ordinance language has not been changed and reads as an additional charge "for each such additional pickup," which he interpreted as assessed per occurrence. Dirie also noted the existing $25 crew charge remains unchanged.
Safety Service Director Pajanowski agreed the plain-language reading is per additional pickup beyond regular weekly service and said the charge would apply when bulk amounts exceed typical collection or when an extra crew is needed. Councilmember Sorica said she supported the change but recommended revising the ordinance after passage to make the billing period explicit for eviction piles and other atypical circumstances.
During voice votes under suspension of rules and emergency declaration, the ordinance passed. The record shows at least one councilmember voiced opposition to passage. The council did not adopt any immediate amendment to change the period language; members asked staff to return with clarified wording.
What happens next: Councilmembers asked the administration to prepare revised language to specify whether additional pickups are charged per occurrence, per week or per month so council can consider an amendment in a future meeting.
