June 4, 2000
Garbage collectors near a Taylorsville neighborhood seem to be ignoring a county noise ordinance.
Their pick-up times for local businesses have gotten so early they're literally rattling residents out of bed.
News specialist Jill Atwood has the story.
3:50 a.m. Friday. The driver of a BFI garbage truck makes a pick-up behind Village Inn, more than three hours before he's supposed to.
Rene Moss/Homeowner: "IT'S LOUD. IT'S LOUD ENOUGH WHERE IT RATTLES MY BEDROOM WINDOWS. WHEN THEY DUMP THE CANS AND HIT THEM AGAINST THE TRUCK IT RATTLES MY BEDROOM WINDOWS."
A county noise ordinace forbids this type of loud work overnight between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Rene Moss says she's been getting up on the wrong side of the bed for months now due to these pre-dawn pick-ups and she's fed up.
She and her neighbors have called several times to complain,
but so far noone seems to be listening.
Rene Moss: "I TRIED TO COMPROMISE WITH THEM, SAYING PICK UP AT 6:00 BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S HARD TO GET TO THE DUMPSTER IF THEY'RE BUSY. THAT COMPROMISE WASN'T ACCEPTABLE TO THEM."
Jill Atwood, Eyewitness News: "THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SAYS THE PROBLEM MAY BE THAT WHILE WASTE COMPANY MANAGERS ARE AWARE OF THE NOISE ORDINANCE, THEIR DRIVERS MAY NOT BE. BUT THEY SHOULD BE NOW, AND THEY ALL HAVE BEEN WARNED--PICK UP BEFORE 7 A.M. AND YOU WILL BE CITED."
Janice Auger/Mayor of Taylorsville: "THEY DRIVE THOSE TRUCKS THAT AREN'T COOL AND IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY. I'M SURE THEY DO IT BECAUSE IT'S COOL."
But Mrs. Moss doesn't think all that commotion at 4:00 a.m. is cool. In fact it's made her downright cranky.
Rene Moss: "WE HAVE JUST AS OF YESTERDAY BEEN NOTIFIED BY THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY WHO SUPERVISES THESE RESTAURANTS INVOLVED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO BRING THIS INTO COMPLIANCE."
The Taylorsville Mayor went on to say she has an open door policy when it comes to citizen concerns.
She says she could have had the problem taken care of sooner had the affected residents called her or come to her directly.
