Potential ordinance regulating boxes

Three Rivers city officials are in the midst of working out a potential ordinance regulating collection boxes.

The matter was most recently discussed at the commission’s Feb. 4 meeting, when Mayor Tom Lowry indicated his preference for the boxes to be banned within the city limits. Lowry said the boxes take resources away from the community and do not provide a direct financial benefit to the city.

A preliminary draft ordinance was presented by attorney Pat O’Malley. His draft calls for regulating the boxes, as opposed to an outright ban.

The majority of commissioners indicated they would prefer to see local, non-profit agencies have preference to the placement of collection boxes in Three Rivers. Some of the current boxes are sponsored by for-profit organizations with no local roots.

For-profit organizations Better World Books and USAgain, and non-profit Planet Aid all have boxes in Three Rivers.