East Grand Forks to require payment up front for refuse container rentals

EAST GRAND FORKS – Policy changes for community members renting dumpsters from the city could help prevent unpaid bills in the future, according to city officials.

Council members approved writing off a combined $472 in bills from three invoices for special refuse pick-ups – which usually means renting roll-off dumpsters or other containers – which the city deemed uncollectable.

Council member Ben Pokrzywinski asked how the city could ensure it receives payment for those kinds of rentals in the future.

“I would hate for someone to go and get a dumpster and try and avoid paying that bill in the future because they’re seeing this happening,” he said.

Karla Anderson, city finance director, said through a recent policy change, those who request a dumpster or refuse container have to pay before it’s delivered, and the city won’t deliver that container until payment is received.

She also said the city is able to take credit card information for payment through the Public Works Department.

She also said that payment policy so far does not apply to businesses working with the city because of existing agreements with those businesses.

“We still have some companies that we do business with on a daily basis, and we don’t make them pay upfront,” she said. “There are a few businesses that we don’t have any trouble with, they continually use our services, so it’s the people that wanted the dumpster.”

As far as the current invoices, Anderson said the city is still working on obtaining payment for a couple of them, but its options are limited because the individual doesn’t live in the state.

She also said the city can sometimes collect payments by preventing the sale of a residence until that payment is received, but that’s only an option through property taxes at the end of the year.

In other news, the council:

• Heard citizen comments from Matt Hanglesben about his concerns over the results of an investigation into parent complaints regarding bullying in some Parks and Recreation programs. That investigation by an attorney substantiated some complaints of bullying, but found that other allegations were unfounded. Hanglesben said he doesn’t agree with some of the findings and is unhappy with how the city and Parks and Recreation responded to his complaints.
• Approved authorizing several city officials for automatic clearing house origination and for online banking.
• Approved electing judges for the special election on Feb. 10 for the open Polk County Board of Commissioners seat.
• Approved appointing Amarae Damron to the library board for a three-year term that will expire in 2028.
• Approved keeping the ice installed in the Blue Line Arena until June 15.
• Approved accepting the Mighty Ducks Grant for $250,000, to be used for replacement of the Indirect R-22 Ice System at the VFW Memorial Arena.

Jordan Rusche is the government reporter for the Grand Forks Herald.