County Garbage Charge Will Increase
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COFFEEVILLE – A long anticipated rate hike for the cost of residential garbage pickup in the county was lower than expected when supervisors opened bids Tuesday morning. The county’s current provider, Waste Management, submitted the low bid at a cost of $19.95 per can, an increase of 91 cents from the current cost of $19.04 per can.
It could have been much higher, Waste Management’s low bid is contingent on transitioning to the use of an automated side loader (ASL) on the garbage trucks in the coming months. Waste Management’s bid without implementing automated pickup is $28.95 per can each month. A second bid from Waste Pro was even higher, coming in at $39.75 per can each month.
“It’s basically no different from what we are doing now,” Waste Management Account Manager Kerry Howell told supervisors Tuesday about automating the garbage pickup. The automation includes cameras that allow the driver to position the loader and will eliminate a second employee on the truck.
Howell stressed that with the automation, Waste Management will not pick up any garbage that is not placed inside the cart.
The company also bid $12 per month if a household needs a second cart at a residence.
The bids were taken under advisement but discussion during the meeting held at the Coffeeville courthouse indicated supervisors will likely award the contract to Waste Management for $19.95.
The increase for the new contract will take effect in April and supervisors will like raise the rates the county charges approximately 3,300 customers. The county currently charges $17.50 per month for each cart, money that is collected and paid to Waste Management. The anticipated increase could push the cost county customers pay higher than Waste Management’s bid of $19.95, as funds collected are also used to help pay the garbage clerk and postage costs.
Waste Management has provided curbside garbage pickup in the county since 2013. Supervisors awarded the last six-year bid to Waste Management in 2018. The term of the bid is for three years, with an option to automatically renew for three additional year-long terms if neither party opts out. The cost also fluctuates annually, based on the Consumer Price Index. This means the $19.95 bid by Waste Management could increase or decrease in April, 2025, depending on the Consumer Price Index.
In a second bid opening during the first county meeting in 2024, supervisors selected BankFirst as the county’s depository for 2024. BankFirst will pay 5.27 percent interest on the county’s deposits that are approximately $15 million. FNB Water Valley also submitted a bid with a variable rate based on prime that would not fall below three percent nor exceed six percent.
“The current rate based on the terms will be five percent,” Chancery Clerk Donald Gray added as he read the bid from FNB Water Valley.
A third bid from Renasant Bank was not opened as it was delivered minutes after the 10 a.m. deadline Tuesday morning.
