Garbage continues to be a problem for Ypsilanti DDA

Garbage is piled nearly six feet high and hasn’t been emptied for weeks in dumpster enclosures owned and built by the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority. Residents and business owners have complained for over three years about chronic problems with trash at the DDA constructed garbage dumpsters.

Ypsilanti DDA Director Brian Vosburg was hired in June 2006. During his interview, Vosburg said, “Solving the problems with the garbage dumpsters would be his highest priority.” Some two and half years later, the dumpsters are worse now than any time previously.

The DDA built three dumpster enclosures as part of a $1 million street scape improvement.

However, the DDA never had a plan to empty the dumpsters. After business owners complained in 2007, the DDA agreed to pay for a contract to empty the dumpsters with Waste Management.

While the dumpsters are emptied on a weekly basis, trash is often left next to over filled dumpsters and Waste Management drivers will not pickup the trash outside the dumpsters.

The DDA purchased locks to keep the large dumpster doors locked, but the locks are either cut off, left hanging, or Waste Management drivers will not close the doors after emptying the dumpsters.

YpsiNews called DDA Director Brian Vosburg numerous times asking for comment on this story. Vosburg did not return our calls.

Video: Ypsilanti City Council Dec 2, 2008

Council repeals City Income Tax Ordinance.

Ypsilanti City Council met on Tuesday evening for their regular bi-monthly meeting. Brandy’s liquor store was again the central issue before Council. Residents from Midtown Neighborhood Association. The meeting got out control as the Mayor became confused on parliamentary procedure and a shouting match broke out between neighbors and Trudy Swanson (Den, Ward 1). Mayor Schreiber repeatedly banged his gavel as he tried to regain control of the meeting.

Police Chief Matt Harshberger gave an update on the nuisance suit filed against the owners of Brandy’s liquor store.

Sorting out Roberts Rules of Order the council revisited the matter of Brandy’s. After an hour long discussion, many times contentious, council members kept asking the the Mayor to follow Roberts Rules. Mayor Pro-tem was in rare form as she railed against Midtown neighborhood as the audience then got back into the debate and the Mayor had to gavel them again. The best part starts about 58 minutes into the meeting.

Council failed to pass a resolution to refer the matter to the Human Relations Commission and voted to ask the city attorney to delay action for 60 days.

The Council then passed a resolution repealing the City Income tax ordinance. The resolution passed unanimously.

Council tabled action to repeal the towing ordinance and then passed the updated snow removal ordinance.

Council gave the City Manager and City Clerk a 2.25% raise retroactive to last summer.

City Council Minutes, Dec 2, 2008

Ypsilanti City closes year with another $1 million surplus

The City of Ypsilanti for the second year in a row, and three out of the last four years, had a budget surplus of nearly $1 million. This was on the heels of a nearly $1 million budget surplus from last year announced just days after the defeat of the City Income Tax.

The audit of the 2007-2008 fiscal year ending June 30, 2008 is available on the City’s website.

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