Making good on a promise to cut city costs, Huntington Mayor Updike has cut trash pickup to the first and third weeks of the month. This new schedule started in March and has already caused a problem with Huntington citizens.
This problem occured because of a shortfall in property taxes. Mayor Updike had made cuts in Fire, police, and other city personnel because of the shortfall. He then proposed a cut in trash services if the council refused to pass a ten dollar fee for the service. Public outrage of the proposal caused the city to veto the request, and making good on the threat, the trash pickup scgedule was reduced.
After only a month of the reduced schedule, citizens are upset over the look of the town. Most are now saying that they will be willing to pay the fee, that they originally balked at. In an interview with the head of the economic development board, it was stated that teh trash schedule would in no way harm chances of investment in the community by industrial corporations.
But if a company is planning an expansion, doesn't aesthetics go a long way. Mix this fiasco with the reduced police and fire protection, and what is there to offer a prospective investor. Citizens are calling for either the Mayor's job or head on a silver platter.
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