More than 30 residents expressed their opposition Tuesday to New Miami Village Council to an ordinance that will require garbage pick-up from the front curb rather from the rear alleys.

The meeting became raucous as as residents raised questions to council about the ordinance as well as another to prohibit vehicles weighing more than three tons from driving in village alleys.

The ordinances angered many of the residents who have had Rumpke trucks come through the alleys to pick up trash for decades. A few weeks ago, the village asked residents to take their trash out to the front curb while the alley behind Morris Avenue was being repaved. Many residents thought this to be a temporary change, however council members, at the recommendation of the village engineer, opted to make the change permanent to extend the life of the newly-paved alleys.

Both ordinances were approved as emergency measures and went into effect upon council’s approval. Because they were approved as emergency ordinances, residents cannot seek a referendum vote.

Councilman Paul Stidham said the village received $100,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds from Butler County for the project.

“We have to make these last another 30 years,” he said. “The state has cut our funding and some villages may be dissolving back into townships … My wife doesn’t like this and I’ll be the one having to take the garbage to the front curb. But if we don’t take these measures, we’ll lose these funds.”

That amount could vary between $300,000 and $500,000 a year, he said.

He and Mayor Patti Hanes also pointed out the village incurs additional liabilities for damages to vehicles or people who use the alleys and are injured.

Larry Marlow, a Morris Avenue resident who parks his semi cab at the rear of his home, passed out flyers and went door to door to gain support of other residents.

“That truck has been my whole life,” he said. “This is my livelihood… let us have our alleys back.”

Jean Butler, a business owner and former mayor, reminded council that trucks have been using the alley for more than 30 years and that there are a lot of elderly people who are unable to take trash out to the front curb.

Village Solicitor Dennis Adams said a variance could be applied to allow truck owners to park behind their homes but that will require the village engineer’s approval.

Marlow and Stidham both said after the meeting that the village will delay enforcing the heavy truck ordinance until the variance process has been completed. However, residents will now have to put their trash out on their front curbs.

“We’re not quitting,” Marlow said. “We’re not going to give up on this.”

Council also told Street Commissioner James Lakes that he will have to go door to door to notify residents of the new ordinance requiring trash to be picked up on the front curbs.

Hanes said it was “a no-win situation.”

“I wish they’d understand that we have a job to do and that’s to protect the village’s money,” she said.