By Katy Moore, Staff Writer --
The Carrollton Leader (www.CarrolltonLeader.com)
(Created: Wednesday, April 4, 2007 1:02 AM CDT)
http://www.carrolltonleader.com/articles/2007/04/07/carrollton_leader/news/01front.prt

A group of Carrollton residents presented a petition to the Carrollton city council Tuesday saying they object to any participation by Carrollton representatives in the Dallas Gay Pride parade or any other association with gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered special interest organizations in the Metroplex. More than 75 local residents signed the petition which suggests that any appearance of outward support for these groups is not "in the best interests of all citizens of Carrollton." The petition also asks that if the council does not agree with the request, the matter be put to a vote for city residents to decide. Carrollton resident Paul Kramer, who presented the petition, said he had received a package in the mail from an unknown sender containing a copy of an article from the Dallas Voice, a local publication for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. In the article, "Pride not prejudice: Opening doors, increasing gay visibility in Carrollon," which said that Carrollton Mayor Becky Miller would ride in the Dallas Gay Pride parade. The article was originally published in September of 2006, but Miller said someone has been circulating it to Carrollton residents anonymously. Miller and councilwoman Pat Malone said they were invited by their constituents to ride in the parade and were glad to do so. In the article, Miller is quoted as saying she wanted to participate in the parade to show her support of diversity in the community. "I want the gay community in Carrollton to see me there and know I support them," Miller is quoted as saying. "I welcome them, and my door is always open." As the petition and copies of the story were distributed to council members Tuesday, Miller said an anonymous letter reflected cowardice on the part of the sender. "I may not agree with that lifestyle, but I support diversity," Miller said. "You can't say that you will represent everyone except for one group of people when you are an elected official." The council also heard a status report from representatives for Allied Waste, which holds the city's trash, brush and recycling service contract. City officials recently received complaints that brush bundles weren't being cleared on pick-up days and requested the status report to work out a solution to complaints from residents saying their services weren't up to par. Reid Donaldson, general manager for Allied Waste, presented council members with figures on current tonnage of brush, recyclables and trash in comparison to March 2006 and February 2007. Recycling increased from 249 to 660 tons from February to March of this year, Donaldson said, likely because of a new recycling program the city implemented which gave residents carts rather than bins for their recyclables. Trash saw a seven percent decrease in March from the same month last year. Recycling was up 50 percent and bulk tonnage increased 30 percent. Donaldson couldn't say why so many residents had so much brush bundled in March but apologized for the complaints. City officials said rubbish collection was the only interaction some residents have with the city and they wanted it to be done more efficiently since residents are paying for the services. "For an average resident who pays their water bill and pays their trash bill, they expect their waste to be picked up on schedule," Mayor Pro-Tem Larry Williams said. "I just get flooded with calls of brush not getting picked up or trash not getting picked up." Donaldson and council members agreed that weather likely was a factor in the increase in bulk waste in March, but Miller said the fact that it happens every spring should be something the company could better prepare for. "We shouldn't get to this point every spring," she said. "I'm trying to fight fights from down in Austin and receiving so many phone calls and emails. But...we don't want hamburger when we're paying for steak." In other business, council members authorized a special use permit for the Columbian Country Club for a temporary clubhouse. The 218.8-acre site north of Country Club Drive and east of Kelly Boulevard has hosted the club for more than 50 years. A representative for the club told the council that the club's facilities were run-down and in need of repair. The club's owners plan to tear the building down, rebuild and open the club to anyone who wants to join. Currently, it is a private, Jewish country club. The special use permit allows about 4,900 square feet of space to be used temporarily. Staff writer Katy Moore can be reached at 972-628-4087 or at kmoore@acnpapers.com.