Milan City Administrator: Not all community complaints are 100% true - ktvo.com

Milan City Administrator: Not all community complaints are 100% true | KTVO

MILAN, Mo. — This week KTVO News spoke with Milan community members who were upset at the city for getting rid of the city-wide dumpster.

Officials from the city said some of the accusations made by community members aren't necessarily true.

The City of Milan is in an agreement with RTS Waste Services to remove garbage and other waste in the city.

During the week of October 16, 2023, the Milan City Council voted to stop offering that dumpster to residents.

Some community members were up in arms about the decision because they claimed their tax dollars paid for the dumpster.

Milan City Administrator Crystal Bupp says otherwise.
“It was 100% the city, that was 100% the city," Bupp said. "And this decision, like I said, I commend it wholeheartedly to allocate city resources more efficiently.”

Residents were required to check out a key from city hall to gain access to the dumpster for two hours.

Bupp told KTVO News that some citizens took advantage of the system.

She said in June they had 35 dumpster checkouts. Two residents checked out two or more times, one resident checked out three or more times and one resident checked out five or more times.
“The last dumpster that we had; it was filled within less than two hours," Bupp added. "And during that time, I was notified that the individual that had checked the key out while they were disposing of their bulk items, there were other people coming in because the gate was open and disposing. So, there was drop offs happening even without checking out the key.”

On Thursday, we spoke with Christine Harrelson, who owns several rentals in Milan.

She claims that she's been cited for having trash along the side of the street.

Bupp says these citations are being handed out due to violation of Article 1 Nuisances - Generally, Section 215.080.

This law reads, "No person or persons shall throw, place or deposit, or cause to be thrown, placed or deposited, any dung, carrion, dead animal offal, garbage or any putrid or offensive substance to be placed or thrown upon any street, alley, public or private ground within the City or upon the margin or banks of any stream of the said City."

Harrelson also said the city wasn't transparent with its decision, but Bupp said residents knew over a month in advance.
“This was on the council meetings, our meeting agendas for the last three [meetings]," Bupp said. "The [October] 16 meeting [and] there was two additional meeting agendas that this was listed on, and this has been discussed and contemplated by the council for a total of three meetings, frankly.”

Harrelson has received multiple citations up to this point.

Bupp says if her violations continue to get worse, law enforcement may get involved and an arrest isn't out of the realm of possibility.

If you live in Milan and need a dumpster, Bupp suggested either getting a commercial dumpster or taking your bulk waste to a landfill.

She said that you should evaluate which option is more cost-effective for you.