We, the undersigned residents of Sparwood, respectfully request that the city council reconsider the recent change to the garbage pickup schedule.  The current 2-week garbage pickup cycle has caused damages, inconvenience, and concerns for many in our community.
   We kindly ask that the city council consider restoring the previous weekly garbage pickup schedule, with the possibility of adding recycling collection  once a month. Weekly garbage pickup helps maintain cleanliness, reduces odors and pests, and supports the health and wellbeing of our neighborhoods.

  Myself and other lifelong residents of the valley are banding together to say that the bear issue in town has never been this bad before. We have all made efforts to lock, tie-strap, and protect our bins within outer buildings; only for bears to wrestle with and damage our bins, sheds, and fences.

 The two-week long pickup does not account for or accommodate shift workers or people without vehicle access to take their items to the dump. Furthermore, without a composting system to work in collaboration with the new recycling system, our bins are sitting in summer heat for up to two weeks full of rotting kitchen and house scraps. This creates a very smelly and appetizing buffet for the local bears.

I am creating this petition as a young mother, home-owner, and lifelong resident of the valley. I have grown up hearing the phrase “A fed bear is a dead bear.” The citizens of Sparwood have gone above and beyond in their efforts to modify, tie-down, and lock up their bins; With some even pouring chemicals and gasoline into bins as a deterrent. The bears now walk our green belts in full daylight and are even raising their cubs within them. We must come together to try and find a solution before someone is severely injured.

 Thank you for helping me bring attention to this matter and for considering the needs of Sparwood residents.