Tempers Flare During Discussion On Ripon Recycling Fee
9 October 2019 News
Ripon Common Council members traded barbs Tuesday night as the Council approved a recycling fee for residents. Aldermen Joel Brockman and Aaron Becker got into a heated exchange in which Becker said he was tired of Brockman rolling his eyes like a 12-year-old girl when Becker was talking before the Council. Last week during a budget meeting Becker had proposed putting the recycling fee before voters during a referendum next February, but it didn’t get support. He brought it up again last evening. Brockman expressed an opinion during discussion that Alderpersons were elected to make decisions for residents and shouldn’t have to take everything back to them for an opinion before they take action on an issue. Mayor Gary Will was able to intercede when things got hot and calmed the situation down. The recycling fee was approved by a 5 to 3 vote, but instead of being put on property taxes as a line item it will be a $10.50 fee collected quarterly through city water bills, which would amount to $42 annually for residents. That will generate $98,000 a year to help the city pay for curbside collection of recyclables.
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