Vandals damaged the gate to the composting area at the city facility on West State Road two weeks ago and city officials don’t know how long it will take to replace the parts.

In the meantime, Department of Public Services employees will staff the facility on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon until repairs are made.

 

However, several council members think the same vandalism will happen again, and will look for other options. City Manager Jeff Mansfield will get cost estimates for monthly curbside pick-up of yard waste and others will come up with suggestions for a solution.

 

Before deciding on the gate that opened only with code numbers issued by the city, the council spent quite some time discussing several ways for a workable solution to the overuse of its facility; it was being overwhelmed by materials that were not compostable with an unknown amount left by non-city residents.

“There is a camera there. I don’t know why it didn’t get a picture of the vandal,” Mansfield said.

The gate was damaged shortly after the site opened for the season.