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Editorial: Myths, Misinformation and Propaganda
December 16th, 2008

Editorial: Editorial: Will Park Closure Just Make Things Worse?
November 29th, 2008

Editorial: Editorial: October and November Surprises
October 30th, 2008

Editorial: Is the Sky Falling?
September 24th, 2008

Editorial: Editorial: Who Reads Cedar Key News?
September 19th, 2008

Editorial: The First Hurdle for Every Child
September 3rd, 2008

Editorial: A View of China from Cedar Key
August 18th, 2008

Editorial: Who Killed the Real Estate Market?
August 8th, 2008

Editorial: Editorial: It`s Clamerica!
July 1st, 2008

Editorial: Can the City Commission Limit Noise?
June 6th, 2008

Editorial: Unintended Results Rock the Boat
May 29th, 2008

Editorial: Creeping Gas Prices
May 13th, 2008

Editorial: Cedar Key Election Soon
April 30th, 2008

Editorial: Questions fo the Candidates
April 2nd, 2008

Editorial: Coming Elections: National County and City
March 19th, 2008

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Cutting the Cost of Garbage Collection

Cutting the Cost of Garbage Collection

Editorial

Cutting the cost of government services is the order of the day at the Levy County court house. It should also be on the agenda for the Cedar Key Commission. Garbage collection fees for residences have gone up from $15 to $18.50 per month in the past two years. That is an increase of 23 percent, not to mention that the for-profit contractor is asking for another increase. The cost of garbage collection can be reduced by simply going to once-a-week collection rather than the current twice-a-week schedule.

Our City Commission deals with many needs. Police and fire protection are foremost. Marina and park operations are also important services. Garbage collection is the most mundane of services, but also an expensive one.

When the next contract negotiations with the outside for-profit garbage collection firm comes due, reduction to once-a-week collection should be considered. Twice-a-week collection is wasteful in three ways. First, it discourages recycling. Second, it wastes taxpayers` money. Third, it adds a round trip of a fuel-hungry pavement eating garbage truck. Once-a-week collection works just fine in most communities.

Many communities that have once-a-week collection reduce the garbage load by having curbside recycling pick-up. With Cedar Key`s emphasis on recycling, curbside pickup can be one step away.

We recommend that homeowners speak to their Commissioners about changing to once-a-week collection at the earliest opportunity. Certainly this issue should be addressed before the budget hearings begin and before entering into a contract with any collection company.

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