Trash collection rates go up as city re-negotiates contract
By BENJAMIN C. SHARP bensharp@journal-spectator.com

Staff Photo by Benjamin Sharp Waste Management's James Fry stacks brush at the city transfer station on Sheppard Street. City garbage collection rates will go up on Monday.

The good news is your trash will be picked up next week. The bad news? It's going to cost you more.

The Wharton City Council on Monday awarded a contract with Waste Management for continued trash collection services. The current contract with the firm expires on Sunday.

The city had initially considered looking elsewhere.

Though Waste Management has provided the service since the mid 1980s, city officials were displeased that the company wanted to re-negotiate the contract in order to charge higher fees. But on Monday, city manager Andres Garza Jr. said there was little other alternative.

Efforts to negotiate a contract with Waste Corporation of America fell through after the company said it would be unable to get garbage collection on-line by Oct. 1, Garza said.

That would have left area residents high and dry next week as far as garbage collection.

Waste Corporation of America also had unrealistic restrictions, Garza said, including having residents chop up limbs into four-foot, bound lengths before setting them out at the curb.

"We said, 'That's not going to happen'," Garza said.

The city instead voted unanimously Monday to approve a contract with current provider Waste Management.

That contract, however, will have some new restrictions as well. At the top of the list will be upping the current collection rates.

Beginning on Monday, the cost for residential pick-up will go up from $14.35 to $16.50. Commercial pick-up will go from $18.58 to $21.37.

The new charges will be reflected on the November utility bills. Waste Management district manager Darryl Lesak told the council that the firm has been forced to make such changes to offset rising costs.

"We are having to haul that stuff farther to Houston. It's becoming a major issue," he said.

Rising costs will also result in the cancellation of the free dumping service for residential garbage at the transfer station on Sheppard Street.

The station will also cut back on its hours, opening three days a week instead of five.

Though not particularly pleased with the rate increase, city officials said they understand the need.

"We don't set those fees," said Garza.

"The cost of waste disposal is growing. And they've got to meet new federal guidelines."

As part of the new contract, the city requested that Waste Management post a sign at the transfer station informing residents of the charges.

They've also asked that the firm inform the city 30 days prior to any change in the fee structure.

City council members further expressed their frustration with current service problems to Lesak. Councilman V.L. Wiley, for example, said constituents in his district have been calling him about a lack of furniture pickup.

"They haven't been picking it up and I'm not pleased with that," he said.

"I can take care of that," Lesak answered, scribbling in a notepad.

Councilman Ken Freese said that several times in the past brush pickup has been delayed. Lesak said there was a recent problem due to a sick employee and a mechanical problem with the firm's brush truck.

Councilman Wiley requested Lesak stay in better contact with city manager Garza to ensure such delays are not surprises to city officials.

Lesak pledged to do so.

"Our relationship has gotten a whole lot better recently," he said.

Only time will tell whether or not it will stay that way. The contract is good only for one year, expiring on Sept. 30, 2008. It may be necessary to re-evaluate the service at that time, Garza said.

"We will either work out a renewal with this company or go out for proposals," Garza said.

"For us, we've got to look at the level of service we're providing to the citizens."