Trash, the whole trash and nothing but the trash!

OK, now that everyone has had a couple of days to air their personal frustrations and fire volleys on both sides, I personally think that it is time to get back to the issue.

Garbage.

Here are the facts:

1. Beginning in 2000, the fees have been $40.00 per week to have the garbage pre-sorted, pads cleaned after the city picked up garbage, as well as daily grounds clean-up, and mainentance of the cans in the parking lots. It started out with 2 men being paid $20 each, but one had to drop out so Larry took over the whole job.

2. When the Regional Group was the property manager, the garbage fees were lumped in with other fees, so there is no way of telling exactly how much was paid in garbage removal alone.

3. When Dixon took over, they mentioned that at it is a fairly common practice at some of their properties for garbage to be prepared beforehand for pickup. (Opinion: makes sense to me, if it is prepared properly by those placing it out, great, if not at least it can be fixed so that there is little or no mess afterwards to be cleaned up.)

4. Larry has asked for a rate increase from what he has been making in the past. (I will confirm the amount, as I have been informed I might have made an error in an earlier post. Once I confirm a couple of numbers I will post a correction if one is necessary. My apologies.)


I interrupt this blog posting because I just went over to check Ms. Harding's blog, and she has continued to branch out to other issues once again. I feel the need to respond in kind. So I will get back to the garbage issue shortly.

1. It appears to me that excessive noise IS indeed covered in the Joint Use Agreement Rules and Regulations.

The incident that is referred to over and over was not a simple noise at 11 or 12. It was 3:15 in the morning. At 11 or 12, perhaps going over and asking to tone it down would be appropriate. So you are saying you would rather have an irate conversation with a person who has been drinking until 3:15 in the morning, asking them to keep it down. In that case, both parties (the one making the noise and the one roused out of their sleep) would be in no shape to have a decent conversation. A letter is a simple way to establish a track record without involving outsiders. Then it informs the person after the fact, that the noise was excessive and please don't let it happen again. It is flabbergasting to me that someone would rather have the police knock on their door than to get a letter informing them that people were disturbed and please don't let it happen again. It is also shocking to me that someone would be so insluted and feel disrespected by a letter, given that the level of disrespect they showed disturbed half of the neighborhood.

Allowing the behaviour to continue without acknowldgement in some way, sets a precedent, and "As we know, once people like this establish a precedent, it can be difficult to retrench. "- as Saxon Harding said here.


2. No neighbor is perfect, and it should not be expected. But rules are rules, no matter how you cut it. You are aware of them and if you think you are above them or choose to ignore them, then you should expect consequences. And who is to enforce them if not the Board or the property manager? If someone builds a shed that floods a neighboring yard every time it rains or snow melts, that is disrespectful and should be dealt with. If you don't feel confident enough to bring the issue up yourself with your neighbour, then it is within your right to ask for help. Larry isn't the only strong personality in the neighborhood, and if a person feels like a vitim of a disrespectful act of that level, that person might also expect to be bullied as well by the offender.



We are in very close proximity to our neighbors and people's actions. whether intentional or not, do affect others. If you want to have a party at 3:15 in the morning, go ahead, that is your right, but you must realize that some people work in the morning no matter what day it is, and their rights are being violated also. Keep it down or keep it inside.


Saxon, you are the kettle that is calling the pot black. You have done more meddling into people's personal and business affairs more than anyone, and been doing it in such a way that is misleading and downright wrong in many cases, as has been proven with FACTS. You spin half-truths to your own benefit and to gain sympathy, just like when you claimed a former board member resigned because he didn't like the way you were treated. WRONG...in fact he did call you to apologize for the way he spoke to you at the AGM, but he resigned because he didn't have the time nor the energy to put up with you and your BS crusade again.

Now back to the garbage. Thank you for allowing me to rant.





4. (continued) The extra pickups are rare and the fact is that on long weekends, people go away and need to put it out Thursday, or Friday morning wake up and realize it is Friday, and just put the garbage out without thinking that it . (OPINION: It happens, I have done it myself, and I know I am not the only one. It will also continue to, no matter how many reminders are sent out.) Then animals and wind happen and an extra sweep is needed, for example, when incidents such as the skunk that was ripping into bags just this morning, happen.


5. Larry hasn't billed the association for any dump runs he has had to make for the associations' garbage, since he has been able to mix it with refuse from his job-sites, thus SAVING THE ASSOCIATION MONEY. Approximately $20 per trip minimum, depending on the materials involved. (OPINION: Thank-you Larry. Who would be willing to store the left-overs until one of Saxon's "dump runs"?)

6. It has been openly disclosed that PT Robertson & Associates is a company owned by Larry Tidman, and that he is a board member. That disclosure, in the minds of Lawyers and Auditors, is enough to satisfy any "conflict of interest" allegations or concerns.

7. There was a garbage committee struck at the AGM, to address Saxon Harding's issues. They have not been active in the process of gathering information or making recommendations. (OPINION: At least I haven't hear a peep. I know they may be busy with living their lives, which is well within their right. But the issue is at a head and they are nowhere to be seen and it has been a month and a half.)