Both women have lived in the Mount Hebron area in suburban ranchers since the late 1950s and early 1960s, and they're not happy with all the changes since then.
"When we moved out here, our taxes were $250 a year," Waldron said about the house she bought on three-fourths of an acre for $21,500. Now, she pays about $3,600 annually.
"We had three men who took care of the business of the county. They were farmers," Scrivener said, referring to the county commissioners who were replaced by the county executive-council system of home rule in 1969-1970. She liked the commissioner system.
Neither of the women expected to change anyone's vote, they said after the hearing, but both said they were satisfied that they'd gotten their point across.
Recycling's blue period
As the County Council reviewed departmental budgets, one item that was a bone of contention last year came up again in the $110 million Department of Public Works budget.
That is the $90,000 allotted for more blue recycling bins that Ulman spent $3 million to buy and distribute free to residents last year, despite criticism from Greg Fox and Courtney Watson, who thought it was a major expense with a recession coming. Ulman argued it was the best way to boost recycling and help reduce trash volume, which will save money in the long run.
Public Works Director James M. Irvin explained the new money was for replacement containers for a few that broke, and for new residents.
"The gift that keeps on giving," Fox muttered as an aside.
Watson said she could help lower that tab, since she has two of the wheeled bins that Ulman says may be the most popular thing he's done.
"I have an extra one," she said, explaining that her father, former County Executive Edward Cochran, hasn't been able to use his bin. Cochran's driveway is so long that he normally puts his recyclables in his car and drives them down to the nearest road, but the big 64-gallon bin was too heavy when full for him to lift into the vehicle. He couldn't get the county to come get it, so he brought it to his daughter's house, she said, figuring she has more influence than he does. It worked.
Irvin said he'd have someone pick it up.
