July 31, 2010
Saturday

I bet if SitNews had a "like" button similar to Facebook's there would be a lot of "thumbs up" for Mr. Hofeling's opinion letter. I recall getting the exact same response from the city when we lived on Ketchikan Lakes Road. It wasn't until my husband fell on the glacier that covered our road, injuring his ribs and the ambulance almost took out a utility pole trying to get to us that they started paying any attention.

This after being told by a KPD Dispatcher that if I was concerned about the ice I should call a plowing business and pay for them to maintain our road myself. Isn't that what our taxes pay for? Who is directing our local police dispatchers to suggest this to us?

And while I'm at it what about the bear/garbage issue?

City ordinance states:

9.68.100 Owner to maintain premises free of litter. (a) The owner, tenant, or person in control of any private property shall at all times keep the property free of litter, garbage, rubbish, or
refuse except to the extent such litter, garbage, rubbish, or refuse is contained within a solid waste storage container meeting the requirements of Section 7.16.050.
(b) The owner, tenant, or person in control of private property shall keep litter, garbage, rubbish, and refuse in such a way as to prevent it from being taken, scattered, or deposited by animals, wind, water, vandals, or in any other way than through collection and disposal under Title 7 of this code. It is not a defense to a charge under this subsection that the litter, garbage, rubbish, or refuse was contained in a legal solid waste storage container before being taken, scattered, or deposited.
(Ord. 1592 §1, 2008: Ord. 743 §3 (8.01.100), 1971)

And taken from our local police departments website:

"Ensuring quality enforcement of criminal and traffic law regulations and ordinances of the State of Alaska and the City of Ketchikan, the Ketchikan Police Department is committed to service through community policing by utilizing vehicular, bicycle, and foot patrols." http://www.city.ketchikan.ak.us/departments/Police/policehome.html

But when you call the local police department you are met with comments like "we are not garbage men"

This is not a BEAR problem, it's a PEOPLE problem. Residents who choose not to secure their garbage need to be held accountable for it. Disposing of a bear is not the answer, this is bear country and another one will come along.

I have lived in Ketchikan for 13 years and the only thing a bear was able to get out of my garbage can was the corner piece of a papertowel and a strand of dental floss. How can this be you might ask? Use a tie down strap with a ratchet. You can get them at one of your local harware stores.

Vanessa Nowland
Ketchikan, AK

About: "7th generation born and raised Alaskan...the last 13 years in Ketchikan."

Received July 28, 2010 - Published July 31, 2010

Related Viewpoint:

Drainage (and the purpose of government) By Dustin Hofeling

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