It's Approved!
Chandler Council approves city managed solid waste collection

In their continuous effort to operate in a proactive manner, the Chandler City Council approved unanimously during their regularly scheduled meeting Tues., Feb. 13, to begin a city-managed solid waste collection. This decision will affect 11 individually owned collection services currently operating in the City.

Additionally, the council agreed to allow City Administrator Jim Moffeit and City Attorney Blake Armstrong to negotiate a contract with Josh Bray of Sanitation Solutions, in Gilmer, whose proposal package was selected by the Council from the four submitted.

Bray's proposal includes:

*Twice weekly pick-up

*Sweeping the city's streets on a quarterly basis

*Two scholarships for one boy and one girl Brownsboro High graduate, living in Chandler

*The demolition and hauling off of up to five condemned or burned out structures per year, at the cost to dump at the landfill

*Customers will have a choice of either poly cart or bag

*Furnish all dumpsters required by the city including city hall, the sewer plant, Winchester Park, and the Chandler fire department.

*Four roll-offs once a year for the city's annual community-wide clean-up at no charge to the city.

*Brush and bulky items pick-up on a regu- lar basis

During the visitors/citizens forum of the meeting the first five to sign up were allowed three minutes each to speak to the council:

Before more than 80 citizens, Lee Godsey told the council the number of people in attendance was very indicative Chandler citizens were concerned with how the solid waste collection agenda item would be decided. His concern was the lack of control citizens will have on their solid waste pick-up rates.

Wayne Duke, owner of Duke Sanitation, referred to a city council workshop held Jan. 30, and said several things were "insinuated."

"They weren't exactly said, but insinuated," he said. "One of them was a state mandate. It was suggested, is what the rule said. You can speculate that something may be coming down the pike, or something may not be coming down the pike. Anytime the state starts suggesting things, it's usually not long before they mandate it. But it's not mandated."

Cedar Bend addition resident Joe Cantrell said he was totally opposed to the city becoming involved with the solid waste collection business.

"I have discussed this with all the Cedar Bend residents," he said. "We're all happy with the current situation."

Cantrell said competition is a great innovator and keeps the individually owned collection services in check.

"If I become unhappy with my current collector I can just call another," he said. "Tomorrow, I'll have a brand new pickup. This makes each one of them work harder."

Cantrell added many residents take their trash to work and don't subscribe to a solid waste service.

"They don't need a collector nor do they hire and pay one," he said. "If the city takes over, everyone will be required to pay, even those who do not want or need the service."

Tess Bynum, owner of A.T. Services, who said she will lose more than half her business should the council approve the item, proposed to put the decision before the voters.

Only one speaker, Howard Taliafarro, spoke in favor of the plan.

During regular session, before the council made their decision, Moffeit explained the reason behind moving forward with a city sponsored garbage collection service.

"When I came here to work a year ago, I had a list of concerns that the council and people that were here gave me and this issue was on my list," he said. "The state has not mandated that we hire a solid waste management company," he said. "However, within the Statewide Management Resource and Recovery Act, Chapter 363 in the Municipal Solid Waste Plan from the State, they say it's the responsibility of the city, the local government, to manage solid waste. In fact, they say that local government should be encouraged to contract with waste management firms to meet requirements of this chapter. We are the exception to the rule not to have a city controlled or city managed solid waste program."

Moffeit said he felt now is the time for the city to move forward with the program.

"There are too many trucks on our streets on a day-to-day basis," he said. "We're spending a lot of money on roads. We have some trucks that are wonderful trucks, but we have some trucks that are substandard. The city has no permit for these folks so we don't know if they have insurance or not. When we see trash on the road or hydraulic fluid we don't know who to call.

"...This is one of those issues we feel like we need to move forward on in a pro-active manner instead of being in a re-active manner when the state does mandate it. So I think the council, it its infinite wisdom, will be reasonable in the pricing of this. There is no reason for them to be outrageous with it.

"...The total program, however, will benefit not only the citizens, in my opinion, but the city in its efforts to improve our infrastructure, our streets, our sewer system, our water system, it will help us tremendously.

"...What money does come in from this program will ultimately result in a better functioning government here that we can do a budget that is much more operative than what we've had in the past. You can't maintain 12 to 13 miles of road with $50,000 a year."

Moffeit said this is also an opportunity for the city to possibly fend off a tax increase.

"This gives us another revenue source," he said. "Cities are limited sometimes in the way they can raise money, and this is a way to do it. I think we'll be as competitive as anybody you have now."

During a previous meeting, the city council approved sending out requests for proposals for the city-wide solid waste collection. Those who submitted proposals were required to put up a $25,000 bid bond, and be able to maintain a performance bond throughout the contract.

Another workshop will be held by the city council to determine what services will be provided as well as the cost to each individual residence. City trash pick-up from an estimated 1100 city addresses will be included in the residences' water and sewer bill.

Moffeit said he hopes contract negotiations will be complete in time to take to the city council's March meeting. If approved, the city will give a 60 to 90 day notice to those solid waste vendors operating in the city, and hopes to have the new program underway by June 1.