CENTERBGURG — Residents pushed back Monday on the idea of the village going to single-hauler trash collection.
Village officials are considering a single option to save wear and tear on village streets.
“What we’re really trying to do here is come up with some ideas of how we can save our roads because of these trucks,” Councilman Dave Beck said. “We’re trying to eliminate 90 percent of the truck traffic.”
Gloria Parsisson said she recycles and composts, and produces less than a bag of trash a month. She takes it to her son’s home outside the village.
“So I do my part to keep the heavy trucks off of your streets,” she said, acknowledging council’s dilemma on taking care of the roads. “But now you want to charge me a monthly fee for what I’ve got for myself working really well.”
Tyler Myers, who recycles using his own cans, agreed.
“I barely make a bag of trash,” he said. “I just feel like you guys can make a better decision.”
Erin Creighton is happy with her current service and receives a discount. She said residents should keep their choice on trash pickup, especially since they have little say over utilities such as water, sewer and electric.
“We shouldn’t have to be locked into one company for two years, three years, whatever, twiddling our thumbs if we’re not happy with them until the council decides that they want to go ahead and change if they so choose,” she said.
Creighton said she understands the road issue.
“Something does need to be addressed with that as well, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of making the residents pay more for options like this,” she said.
Discounts, snowbird accommodations and pick-up time
Village Administrator Rick Dzik said both Rumpke and Evergreen will offer at least a 10 percent a senior discount. Evergreen offers a veteran discount.
Both would consider a vacation status for residents who are away.
Evergreen offers per-bag service at $4 for a small bag and $7 for a large one.
Haulers are required to report customer complaints, missed pickups and trash volume hauled out of the village. They cannot pick up between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Daryl Williams asked whether residents could opt out, saying he does not want to be forced into recycling.
“Because I would like to have a choice,” he said, adding that haulers can lure customers with a low rate, then raise prices.
Angie Webb owns a business and two rental properties in the village.
She asked how the rules apply to rentals, businesses and existing contracts, and how much truck traffic the plan would eliminate if commercial and rental dumpsters stay with other companies.
The mandate would cost her an extra $50 a month.
“Which doesn’t sound like much, but we’ve been doing this for 20 years with no problem,” she said.
Webb also raised questions about billing, unpaid accounts, future rate increases and enforcement against residents who don’t sign up.
Roger Hall fills two 96-gallon containers some weeks and negotiated a hauler rate to fit that volume.
“It’s been that way for 20 years. If we go to a one-vote system at a flat rate, what do I do with the rest of that trash?” he asked.
The South Hartford Avenue resident said school buses and grain trucks already pass his house daily.
“I don’t see where the trash truck coming through once a week is going to be the biggest concern as far as wear and tear on the roads,” he said.
‘We’re just listening’
Council gave a first reading to legislation authorizing single-hauler collection on Monday, but Dzik emphasized the village has not made a decision.
Council also gave a first reading to legislation adding a chapter on garbage and rubbish to the village code.
Mayor Greg Myers said the village is not forcing anything on anyone right now.
“We’re just looking for some ideas,” he said.
Each bidder was asked to give the village a one-, two- and three-year contract cost and two renewal years.
Dzik thought the companies would offer lower rates with a longer contract. However, both bidders just increased their rates by 3 percent each year.
If the village goes with a single hauler, he recommends a two-year contract to allow the hauler to recoup start-up costs.
Regarding opting out, Dzik said the bid prices are based on a certain volume of customers.
“If we start to chip away at that volulme of customers, I don’t know how much longer they could adhere to the bid,” he said.
Additionally, the village might eliminate a recycling requirement since the village entered an agreement with Delaware-Knox-Marion-Morrow Solid Waste District to supply bins in the village.
