Overland Considers Expanding FREE trash pickup

Overland has offered free trash service for the past three years to residents whose income is no more than 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines. The City Council is considering raising the qualification level to 160 percent, to include more people. A total of 108 households now qualify under the 150 percent guideline.

The council agreed on Monday night to consider the change, beginning in August; later, the council also will consider asking voters to approve the city's first park sales tax, a half-cent, on the November ballot.

Increasing the income threshold for trash payment assistance was promoted by council member Ken Owensby. City trash service bills are about $22 a month. But Owensby was quick to oppose the sales tax proposal, saying residents couldn't afford it and the election cost itself would be a waste of funds.

Councilman Jerry May said the council got a city attorney's opinion in 2008 that the free trash service program is illegal, but other members disputed this. An attorney's opinion will now be secured in writing, the council agreed.

In the meantime, Overland is one of the few St. Louis County cities where voters can approve a park sales tax but have not yet done so, officials said. Projections show that it would produce $1 million for parks and/or stormwater services annually.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_85a5751a-ffd0-5125-b5f9-6888b9645904.html#ixzz1S0q0RzhN

Trash Bills Force Residents to Seek Financial Aid

The Overland City Council approved an ordinance to provide trash pickup assistance for needy residents.Those who wish to apply for the aid must prove eligibility by filing with the city clerk a copy of their 2008 Missouri tax return, a 2007 federal tax return and the most recent bill from their trash service provider.

Residents have told city officials that the cost of trash pickup is too high. Mayor Mike Schneider said the city will seek bids in hopes of finding a company with lower rates. Wow, a city that listens to residents. We'd venture to say less than 50% have complained as compared to St. Louis County where more than 50% of residents in areas have complained about their trash program.

St. Louis County's direction? Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.

Overland to help residents pay trash bills

Overland City Hall will be helping needy residents pay their trash bills, thanks to an allocation of funds approved Monday night. The Overland City Council endorsed setting aside $50,000 to help needy residents pay their trash bills.

At least one councilman questioned the propriety of such a move, which produced a split vote. The program isn't expected to put a strain on city finances; Overland is projected to receive about $800,000 in settlements from cellular telephone companies doing business in the city.