FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CITY APOLOGIZES FOR EARLY MORNING PHONE CALLS

CITY APOLOGIZES FOR EARLY MORNING PHONE CALLS

On Sunday, January 31, several citizens received phone calls beginning shortly after midnight from the City’s automated calling system.  The phone calls were to advise residents that crews would be attaching barcodes to their recycling carts during the month of February. The calls started on Friday and were to occur between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. daily until all households were contacted. The cause of Sunday’s early morning phone calls has not yet been determined and the City is working with the vendor to rectify the problem. At this time it is unknown how many residents received calls during the unauthorized time. The system was shut down at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

“We realize that this was a tremendous inconvenience for many of our citizens,” said Acting City Manager Neil A. Morgan. “We deeply regret this mistake and sincerely apologize to those who received the early morning calls.”

The following message was to go out to citizens through the automated calling system.

"In an effort to better maintain the City-owned blue recycling carts, barcodes will be installed on your carts between February 8th and March 5th. Staff will be identifiable with safety vests as they adhere the barcode to your cart the day of your recycling collection. Please place your blue recycling cart at the curb the day of your next scheduled collection regardless of whether or not you have anything to recycle. If you have any questions in regards to your recycling service or day of collection, please call the Public Works Department at 757-269-2700."

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