Good morning! I was calling concerning the Health Director Michael Suckau who has made some statements in your newspaper concerning the trash collection. You know, basically, as I look back at what I do at my household and in my area, the 96-gallon trash barrel is ideal for trash. And in my neighborhood the trash seems to be overflowing. And we do participate, in our area, in the recycling program. And I think you’re making a mistake by going down to 64 gallons for trash and going up to 96 for recycling because with my neighborhood, my trash barrel compared to recycling has never reached that cycle. Gentlemen, I think you’re barking up the wrong tree concerning the usage on the barrels. Please consider changing your line of thought. Have a nice day.
I would like to give a special thank-you to the WPD. I would like to thank dispatch (sorry I don’t know your name.), Officers Mike Gibbons, Chris Coach-canine, Dan Gustafson – thanks for helping calm me down, and special thanks to Detectives Steve Dickinson and Brian Freeman who kept me updated and called me back promptly when I had any questions or concerns. Det. Freeman called me and notified me right after he apprehended the perpetrator. I apologize for any misspelled names and not having correct titles for each name. My house was recently broken into and two weeks to the day, the robber was caught. Unfortunately none of my property was recovered. I am also writing this because I want to prevent this from happening to others. There are too many scum-sucking amoebas to take the place of the one that was caught. You can no longer feel safe in your own home or neighborhood. Secure as many of your belongings as possible. Be hyper vigilant to your surroundings and those around you. It only takes a moment for the lower than Satan’s toe jam dirt bag to walk off with thousands of dollars of belongings and memories and the only thing they leave you is a big mess to clean up after. We work hard all our lives working for things and pay good money for them. These thieves steal things from us and they sell them to other pond scum for a paltry sum. I know some people may say that it is the police officers job, but working with the public is a very difficult thing. Complaints are heard much more than compliments. Thanks again especially to Detectives Brian Freeman and Steve Dickinson.
Couldn’t you have found a better photo of Mayoral Candidate Mike Roeder? The photo you published reminded me of the old wrestler “Iron Claw” Kowalski. Maybe you should spin the mayoral election battle as “Tight-fisted Iron Claw Roeder vs. Free-spending Pillsbury Doughboy Knapik”
To the person who thinks that Mr. and Mrs. Figy are out of touch with regular folks you are so wrong its really funny .They are two people who give so much of their time to others especially volunteering their time. Mrs. Figy is a long time retired police officer who served this city above and beyond her duties and deserves whatever benefits she receives. Mr. Figy has given so much of his time to Westfield’s youths. Seeing that you think you know so much about the Figys he was a guidance councilor in a different city not Westfield. You apparently have some kind of grudge against them but don’t have the guts to sign your name. I am proud to say I know them and although I am unable to vote for Mr. Figy he would make a very good councilor and would be very accessible to Ward 2 residence. Let’s see if you have the guts to respond and sign your name. Steve Andras
Good morning! I was just calling concerning the Park Square facility and I know they anticipate at one time building a building of some type that would accommodate different functions and I notice that nothing has been done. I know originally there was a cost of $500,000 then less and less then Westfield Voc was going to get involved. Any news on that? Any direction that we’re going? Any final news would certainly be appreciated. Thank you very much. Have a nice day. Along the way to handing the project off to the Vocational-Technical program, there was a need for a professional engineer to produce structural drawings and an architect to develop construction drawings that would include what the final materials would consist of, how they would be constructed and what they were. That process is nearly complete. It is anticipated that sometime in the next few weeks the City will be able to put out to bid the materials contract for vendors to supply materials. Once the materials have been secured, construction will begin.
Good morning! I was calling concerning the Health Department’s recent statements concerning purchasing additional barrels so that we will have two barrels in front of our house in the near future. But I’m trying to understand one thing: it says here in your newspaper $100,000 a year will be given by The Department of Environmental Protection and it states it’s a grant. And a grant normally means it does not have to be paid. In this case, as I read a little further down, the grant will be reimbursed after you get the barrels, so basically, it can’t be called a grant. Mr. Suckau, I’m getting a little confused here. Number one: are they going to give you the $100,000 to purchase the barrels and then turn around after you get the barrels within 30 days then you pay them the $100,000? Give me a little clarification. I think the people of Westfield would certainly appreciate any. And, by the way, the total sum, is it $700,000 – $800,000 for additional barrels? Can you give us a few facts on that? We thank you very much for your time. Have a nice day.
The article in Thursday’s paper concerning recycling was quite interesting and confusing. It stated there are residents who don’t use the present recycle bins for numerous reasons. Why do they think those people will use a different system? They won’t. And if I understand this correctly, now there will be two barrels, instead of one. Are senior citizens really able to wheel the barrels to the curb, any easier than picking up a bin with handles?? Will there still be recycling of plastic and paper/cardboard available at the transfer station?? And why when I enter the transfer station with my sticker properly placed at the backside of my rearview mirror, does the attendant come over to ask what I have?? One more thing: why doesn’t the city have the attendant at the transfer station pick up all the plastic bags and trash that has blown around?? It is a disgusting mess!! Please, I would like a comment printed in the paper concerning these comments. And PLEASE. Don’t reply by telling me to call the Health Board or the DPW, I have done that on MANY occasions and have NEVER talked to a human. Thank You.
It is in fact a grant. However, many of the grants offered by DEP are reimbursements for the products or services outlined in an application. This ensures that the money is used for what it is intended. The City buys the proper containers and submits a receipt and the DEP will refund the City for the purchase within the parameters of the grant, i.e. $100,000. The purchase cost of the barrels varies depending on state contract price, manufacturer, and number ordered. The total purchase estimate is based on these prices multiplied by the number of households serviced. This is why there is such a big range. The other option is to lease with a company, which is where the $100,000 per year figure comes from. The DEP grants usually only apply to start-up programs, but there may be an opportunity to apply each year to help defer the cost. The idea to move to single stream is to make recycling more convenient and accessible to the public. If you do not have to separate the products, and you have a larger container, you will recycle more. This program will have to be preceded by a large educational campaign to remind the community why it is important to recycle and also the proper way to do it. There is a year’s worth of information from other single stream communities that Westfield can use when the program is put together and finalized, taking into consideration all of the concerns that have come up in these other cities. The transfer station will still be able to accept curbside trash and recycling. The attendants have a responsibility to inspect incoming loads to ensure that unauthorized material is not disposed of. The DEP has a waste ban in place, which is why the City cannot accept many materials for disposal. Anything that is hazardous or recyclable must be diverted from the trash. Westfield makes accommodations for many of these materials but there are some things that the City still cannot take. The City is constantly working on ways to make the program more accessible to the public. Please feel free to contact the Westfield Health Department with any other questions.
