Residents in the city of Westby, who are playing the sanitation system, will find themselves with a mess of recyclable materials to dispose of themselves if they continue to split their sanitation usage between city-operated collection and outside vendors.

Increased competition from outside sanitation companies has forced the city sanitation department to begin clamping down on partial users of city services.

"Use it all or lose it all," was the phrase Alderman Arnie Anderson used when he referred to customers who expect the city to pick up residential and business recyclable and yet pay out of city sanitation companies to collect their garbage.

The city of Westby has over 80 percent total customer-based service usage. The city-operated sanitation service is funded through the purchase of orange city garbage bags at a price of $1 and $2 a bag.

Problems developed when residential and business customers who don't regularly use the entire city-based sanitation service began only utilizing the recyclable collection service with periodic garbage bag collection.

Sanitation employees reported to city council members a disturbing trend developing where noncustomers set out their recyclables on collection dates expecting city employees to collect them when they are utilizing outside services for the rest of their garbage collection services

Westby City Council members agreed unanimously to nix the problem in the backside before it grows out of control. Council members agreed that if city residential and business customers don't utilize all city-based sanitation department services that city employees would no longer collect their recyclables.

Letters will be sent out or placed on noncustomer compliance recyclable containers informing of the city council decision. Anyone with questions may contact city hall at 608-634-3214 or Arnie Anderson for a further explanation.

In other business the city council agreed to move the annual Fourth of July fireworks to the evening of Sunday, July 3rd to coincide with a number of family-based activities happening over the weekend.

According to Nordic Raceway manager Bonnie Lunde go-cart races at Nordic Lanes, volleyball and a charcoal chicken dinner are just a few of the events being contemplated for the Sunday

continued on page A-14 evening of activities.

Anderson is also hoping to schedule a summer youth baseball event at the city field in downtown Westby.

Utilities manager Gregg Hanson got the green light from the fireworks display company to change the event from Monday, July 4 to Sunday, July 3 at dusk. The city also agreed to purchase the same variety of faster-action fireworks which was displayed in 2004.

The fireworks display produces a shorter, but more colorful array for spectators. In 2004 the program ran 20 minutes compared to 30 minutes in 2003. The city budgets $2,730 for the annual fireworks display purchased through J & M Displays.

The youth summer baseball season kicks off on Monday, June 6 for all ages except T-ball for girls and boys which begins on Tuesday June 7.

The next city council meeting will be at 7 p.m. on June 7 at city hall. The public is encouraged to attend the monthly meetings and participate if they have issues they wish to discuss.