Don't need township help with garbage

When is the government going to stop “helping” us? First it was Obamacare. Now, if you live in unincorporated Wayne Township, the township board wants to control your garbage. Perhaps they think that's too much for us to handle by ourselves.

In January, the Wayne Township Board just beat the deadline to get a referendum on the April 5 ballot asking voters to authorize them to contract, administer or license refuse collection in unincorporated Wayne Township. What does this mean to those residents? If the referendum passes, only one garbage company will be licensed to pickup up garbage in unincorporated Wayne Township. The board originally pitched this as a road maintenance issue but quickly changed that saying they just want to save residents money.

They claim rates will be lower. For the first year or two of the contract they might be. However, with only one hauler collecting garbage and no competition, we all know what happens. Rates will go up and service will go down. The board is establishing a monopoly for garbage collection, and everyone knows how well monopolies work for us as consumers.

If you still want a choice of your garbage company and not have the government make that choice for you, vote no on the referendum. Don't fall for that low teaser rate the board will be pitching. Just like cable companies, banks and credit-card companies offer you a low initial rate to sign-up, we all know what happens over time. Fees go up.

If you really want the township board to help you with your garbage why not call up the board members and have them come over to haul your garbage can out to the street for you. That would be the most logical and best use of their time.

Mark Perry

West Chicago