I thought I'd start a topic covering the City of Cincinnati's basic public services focusing on: 1) what the city does/doesn't provide, 2) how to report an issue or get access to a service, 3) what the city should/shouldn't provide and 4) how well the city provides its services.  If a topic of this nature is already posted elsewhere or this is too vague please let me know.  I will follow up with some contacts and comments regarding a service issue I have already bumped into.

I heard an interview with the guy who invented SeeClickFix, and it looks like someone has started to set it up so that it automatically sends repair requests to the proper city dept.  I have downloaded into my iPhone and will give it a try over the next few weeks.

http://seeclickfix.com/cincinnati/activity

Doesn't 591-6000 allow you to make any requests to the operator?  i know they cut back on the hours...but, isn't that one avenue?

You can also submit a service request through the city's website at https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/pubsrv/pages/-4267-/  (the request goes to the same places as calling 591-6000).  I report pavement issues, broken traffic signals, and such there all the time.  Many people use it to request special trash pickups or to report rodents, clogged sewers, etc.

Some major cities such as NYC and Chicago have set up a 311 number for non-emergency police calls and other city services. Has Cincinnati considered doing something similar?

The non-emergency Police Number in Cincinnati is 765-1212.  I do like the idea of having a number such as 311 set up.  It's much easier to remember.

OK, I was wondering why free residential Cincinnati trash pickup only covers individual homes and MDUs (multi-dwelling units) of 4 or less units.  The only rationale I have come up with is that the city figures apartment/condo fees would be more likely to pick up the tab.  However, doesn't this policy discourage more dense development since it adds additional fees to homeowners in larger buildings?

 

As a side note, this means that recycling is also an additional cost to these large building dwellers.  I would image this would have the additional effect of discouraging recycling.

^I don't think that is true.  I live in a six unit building and they pickup and I thought they extended recycling to larger apartment buildings also.  I think above a dozen units you are better to have a dumpster, otherwise you will just have too many garbage cans.

^ Our building does pay for trash pick-up and recycling.  Our condo association has an item budgeted for that.

I found some clarification on the five+ units getting no free garbage collection in the document linked below:

 

9/4/2008

http://city-egov.cincinnati-oh.gov/Webtop/ws/council/public/child/Blob/23440.pdf;jsessionid=604994D248AD0E978BCED891EBF8AB1F?rpp=-10&m=1&w=doc_no%3D%27200801027%27

"The City currently has a contract with Rumpke of Ohio, Inc. to pick up and recycle on a weekly basis those waste materials generated by residential households in one to four family buildings, and residential building larger than four units that were receiving the service as of June 30, 2004."

 

That's an odd exception to say the least.

Does anyone know of any agency in Cincinnati/Hamilton County that will test your soil for lead?

 

I found this resource: http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/health/pages/-36378-/ where you can scrape off paint from your walls and have it tested for lead. However, nothing for soil.

 

My friends always plant a vegetable garden in Clifton, and have no qualms with eating all of the produce. But back when I worked in Lower Price Hill, one of my supervisors warned me against eating urban garden vegetables because of the link between old housing stock + lead paint getting into the soil. I would feel much better about having the soil tested before I make plans to dig up the front yard!

^That's an interesting question.  I'd love to know what you find out.

Call the Ohio Dept of agriculture. They may have someone locally that can test it. Weather or not it's free i have no idea.

I apologize about my misstatement on the exclusion of multi-dwelling units from garbage/recycling pickup.  It seems as though I was misled by some comments made by our condo management company.  Below is an email response from Larry Whitaker (Assistant Director of Public Services).

 

"Mr. Wissel,

 

Thanks for the email. I did check our guidelines for you.

 

We do not have any restrictions based on the number of dwelling units in

a residential building.

 

Generally, a building owner with a significant number of dwelling units

will find it more convenient to hire Rumpke to provide dumpster service

for their tenants. However, the building owner does have the option of

setting out garbage for City curb-side collection.

 

If you do make a decision to eliminate Rumpke service and begin

utilizing City curb-side collection, please just alert us so that we can

ensure our drivers include the stop on their route.

 

Hope this is helpful. Regards,

 

 

Larry Whitaker

Public Services

Director's Office"

 

It looks like I may have found a cost cutting measure for our building since we do not currently use dumpsters.