Trash bins a problem for townhouses

Your Oct. 12 cover article regarding the new trash pickup arrangements for Bella Vista described the positive advantages of the new system to both residents and Republic.

However, the new system poses a real difficulty for townhouse residents, the majority of whom have no proper place to store bins. In the past, we have utilized the various styles of bin corrals, but now the Townhouse Association has informed all of us that this winter they are going to remove all our corrals. What in the world are they thinking?

As residents of Bella Vista, we are governed by the city and subject to compliance with city laws and ordinances. Those state that “residents must refrain from placing garbage containers out for garbage pickup more than 12 hours before pick up or longer than 12 hours after pick up.” Garbage bins must not be in public view after that period. We are also subject to the policies and ordinances of the Townhouse Association. Their policy manual states that carports and front entry areas are not to be used for any type of exposed storage; trash cans must be screened from the view of the general public and of the adjoining lots.

Unfortunately, and to the great detriment of community standards of order, cleanliness and beauty, these regulations are not being enforced. From the looks of things in many of our townhouse complexes, they haven’t been for some time. Take a drive through Metfield Courts or Drake Courts and count the number of trash cans that literally greet you at the front door. In defense of some of these residents, they simply have no other storage options as there isn’t a corral anywhere in sight. Where did they go, down a gopher hole? And now we are informed our remaining corrals will likewise soon be gone. In a couple of areas there are large trash containers, but these are only enclosed with fencing on three sides and aren’t even fully placed within the enclosure. C’mon everybody. Can’t we do better than this? Some of our townhouse areas look like slums.

Article IX of the Townhouse Association policy manual states owners have the right, utilizing legal procedures or other means, to have these articles enforced. I hope finding a solution won’t require a lawsuit. The new collection system as it applies to the townhouse complexes simply hasn’t been properly thought out, and many residents have succumbed to the “broken window theory” by just accepting the unsightly and unsanitary daily situation of exposed trash cans.

Now is the time for those involved parties, primarily Townhouse Association and Republic, to find a solution for us that accommodates and observes existing law. Otherwise, we expect the city to do its job and strictly enforce the trash ordinance, issuing citations if necessary. Mary Clare and Dennis Wareham Bella Vista