Anna residents say no to paying for proposed leaf pickup program

<p class="p1">Anna residents who responded to a survey conducted by the city indicated by a wide margin that they would not be interested in paying for the costs of a bagged leaf pickup program.</p><p class="p1">The survey results were discussed at last week's regular meeting of the Anna City Council.</p><p class="p1">The council's first regular meeting of 2016 was held Tuesday evening, Jan. 5, at Anna City Hall.</p><p class="p1">The city included a "bagged leaf disposal survey" in recent bills which were sent to Anna utility customers. The city has about 1,800 utility customers.</p><p class="p1">The survey question follows:</p><p class="p1">"Since the City of Anna no longer picks up leaves and brush, the city council is conducting a survey in order to get input from our citizens to see if there is interest in a city bagged leaf pickup program. This program would not include brush pickup. Customers would be required to place their leaves in either approved paper leaf disposal bags (the cost of bags are approximately .75 cents each) or in a clean waste container. The bagged leaf pickup program would consist of 8 pickups over an 8 week period and the cost to each customer would be approximately $2.00-$3.00 billed every month on your utility bill. Please indicate below whether you would like for the city implement this program."</p><p class="p1">Residents were asked to give either a "yes" or "no" response. Space also was available for residents to make comments.</p><p class="p1">City administrator Steve Guined said that 237 survey responses were received. The responses were overwhelmingly against the proposed bagged leaf pick up program.</p><p class="p1">Of those who responded, 204, or 83 percent, said no to the proposal. A total of 33, or 17 percent, said yes.</p><p class="p1">City officials have been trying for several years to determine what to do about disposal of brush, tree limbs and fallen leaves. </p><p class="p2"> </p>