Bay City residents receive $200 or more fine for leaving trash bins out

BAY CITY, Mich. (WNEM) – Residents in Bay City are concerned with big fines over trash cans.

On Monday during the city commission meeting, the concern over people paying a large amount for their trash bin being left at the curb for two long was brought up.

“I just want to bring up, I’ve been getting a few calls from some constituents pertaining to getting a fine for leaving their trash container out maybe a day or so,” said 4th Ward Commissioner Ben Tenney.

In Bay City there is an ordinance that enforces trash bin removal. If a resident’s trash bin is not removed by a certain time following trash pick-up, they could face a $200 fine or more for repeat offenses. However, this ordinance could change.

“It did catch me and other commissioners off guard,” said Mayor Chris Girard.

For years, there has been an ordinance in the city about where and when you place your trash can.

“So, specifically residents aren’t supposed to put their trash can out the night before, before 4 p.m., and then the following day after trash pick-up, it’s supposed be picked up by 8 a.m.,” Girard said.

If residents do not remove their trash bins from the curb before 8 a.m., they could face a nuisance fee.

“It does seem like an exuberate amount of money,” said Tenney. “It is $200 for the first violation.”

“It’s only in there as a nuisance charge so it is a pretty broad interpretation of a violation,” said Girard.

Residents who have been recently been slapped with the fine are reaching out to commissioners.

“Give or take four people, which it’s not common for me to hear from, four constitutes a week that are complaining about the same issue,” said Tenney. “I think enforcement of it has been more recent, especially more aggressive enforcement of it.”

Girard along with city commissioners said they are looking into the policy.

“Is there a process we can notify the resident of if there is an issue and if there is a continuous issue? There is an escalating fee, not a very large fee, right off the back,” said Girard.

“I think it is a good policy to discourage people from leaving their trash cans out all the dog gone time, I would never disagree with that. However, $200 seems like a lot, the time frame seems too stern, and I don’t know if it’s feasible or not but I’ve asked for all these fees to be dismissed,” said Tenney.

Bay City residents who have received a nuisance fee can fill out an appeal with the sanitation department.

Girard tells TV5 they plan on discussing fees over trash can pick up during the city commission meeting the first week of September.

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