AVON LAKE They say that one man's trash is another man's treasure, but people intent on scavenging in Avon Lake will now be subjected to an added cost for such treasure hunts.

City Council on Monday voted 6-2 to require “scavengers” to pay a $15 annual licensing fee and register their vehicles with the city. They also must foot the cost for a sign that must be displayed on their vehicle while in the city.

Council President Marty O’Donnell said the city decided to act after complaints from residents who were concerned about scavengers trolling the neighborhoods on Sunday nights as well as from residents who had items taken that weren’t meant for the trash collector. Police Lt. Duane Streator said he is working with Mayor Greg Zilka, who also is the city’s safety director, on how best to communicate the new regulations. Streator said once Zilka signs the legislation, the department has a 30-day period to notify the scavengers before the law takes effect.

The licenses will be good for one year and expire on Dec. 31. Applicants must reapply every year. Scavengers may not remove recyclable materials that have been placed for collection by the city trash collector.

Councilman-at-large Dan Bucci and Ward 4 Councilman Dave Kos cast dissenting votes.

Bucci said Tuesday he questioned the need for legislation and whether it will be enforceable.

“I think the legislation is good-intentioned, but I don’t know that it will solve the perceived problem that exists. All of the things trying to be curbed we already have laws against,” he said. “(Scavengers) provide a valuable service. This is stuff that we think so little of that we put it on our tree lawn. They are finding value in it and putting it back into use. It is conservation at its core and I don’t want to do anything to put a roadblock on that.”

O’Donnell said he understands that there are many “mom and pops” who make a living scavenging, but safety must come first. He plans to revisit the regulations at the end of the summer to see whether the program worked and whether changes are needed.

In other business, council voted to waive building permit fees for the 2,400 residents who must install laterals on their properties to connect to the sanitary sewer.

Avon Lake Municipal Utilities is providing a $1,000 sewer credit incentive to encourage homeowners who have either already separated but not installed the laterals or who must still separate to do so. Sewer Committee Chair Jennifer Fenderbosch said waiving the building permit fees ($25 each for plumbing and electrical) will also help residents move forward in meeting the deadline for installation.

Letters outlining the project and the incentives will be mailed to all affected residents.

Ward 3 Councilman Larry Meiners voted against the measure, citing the revenue the city would be giving up while it is in belt-tightening mode. He also questioned the fairness of waiving the fees for those who must still separate when other residents have already paid said fees.

Also, the city removed more than 75 trees destroyed during Superstorm Sandy. Acting Service Department Manager Joe Reitz said city workers will grind out the stumps and reseed those areas.

The Tree Commission is investigating possibilities for replacement but Reitz said there is no money in the budget to pay to replace the trees right now.

See more Avon Lake news at cleveland.com/avon-lake.

Higley is a freelancer from Avon Lake. Contact her at chigley4sun@gmail.com.

More Avon-Lake stories