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Currently, governing authorities like the city of Ringgold can issue written notices for violations, but have to petition superior court for an order for the removal of receptacles.

The city’s resolution is aimed at speeding up the process so the city court can order the removal and get the unauthorized collection boxes taken away quicker.

“The issue we have is having to go to Superior Court in order to get the legal authority to have these removed,” said City Manager Dan Wright. “It’s unfortunate that if I own a commercial parking lot, especially if I’m an absent owner in South Carolina or somewhere, and these things appear; for me to get rid of them is a pretty good chore.”

Wright and the rest of the council agree that the issue isn’t with legitimate charities like the Salvation Army or Christ Chapel, but rather with for-profit companies that setup their boxes without anyone’s knowledge or consent.

“We’re trying to get it where we can bring it to city court to have them removed and everybody be on their merry way,” Wright explained. “I think that’s what we need to do now is petition our local delegation to either get in contact with the people to maybe carry a bill if they have to; to try and change that from superior court to city court.”

Councilman Larry Black was one of the officials who spearheaded discus- sion about the issue late last year. He says his main goal is to get the unauthorized boxes out of town as quickly as possible.

“If we have an issue with these boxes, we would like to address it in a more timely fashion,” Black said. “That’s the reason we want to have it in our city court.”

Wright explained that the city drafting and approving the resolution is the first step on the matter.

“Normally when we do this, we put it in the form of a resolution and send it down so they know y’all (the Council) are in favor of it,” Wright said.

The board unanimously approved the resolution, and