Town aims to crack down on garbage scofflaws

Garbage scofflaws have been plaguing the Town of Port Washington, a situation that has town officials looking for a way to put an end to it.

Town Clerk Heather Krueger told the Town Board Monday that garbage attendant Jim Van Hoogen has reported that he often finds people are dropping their garbage outside the drop-off site during hours when the facility is closed.

Van Hoogen told her that people sometimes drive up to the center before it opens and by the time he opens the doors they’ve deposited their trash and departed, she reported.

“He comes in during the week and there’s stuff left there,” Krueger said. “I see people stopping here when we’re not open.”

When asked how frequently these sorts of things occur, she said, “It happens pretty often.”

“It’s probably repeat offenders,” Supr. Greg Welton said.

The drop off center at 3715 Highland Dr., next to Town Hall, is open from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

Welton noted that this constitutes illegal dumping and suggested the town post signs to that effect warning that the town will prosecute offenders.

But, he said, he would prefer it if the town can stop people before they drop off trash.

“If we can deter it, that seems better,” Welton said.

Supr. Gary Schlenvogt suggested the town post signs saying the drop-off center is under surveillance.

Welton also said the town should block the driveway with large cones when the drop-off site isn’t open so people can’t drive through.

Then, he said, people would have to park on the road.

“No one’s going to carry it in from the road,” Welton said.

If worse comes to worst, he said, the town could put a chain across the driveway.

In other action, the board approved a $183,700 bid from Payne and Dolan to repair Woodland Road from Highway KK east to an area just west of Highway H.

Payne and Dolan was one of two firms seeking the contract. Johnson and Sons bid $211,500.

The town budgeted $170,000 for the work, and will take the remainder of the cost from its reserve funds, officials said.

“That road’s been bad for years and years and years,” Welton said. “It’s probably the worst road in the town. It was one of our goals to get this done this year.”

A representative of Payne and Dolan told the board the work would probably be done in August.