Dearborn trash service remains under review

DEARBORN, Mo. — Representatives from Deffenbaugh Industries and Redgate Disposal made presentations to Dearborn’s Board of Aldermen this week, hoping to earn the city’s contract for trash collection service. All About Trash, the third company with the lowest bid, has not had anyone speak during a recent work session on the matter nor at the Monday, June 8 meeting.But a decision still waits after the board voted to schedule another work session for later this month in a debate now going on for about a year.“You were absolutely right,” Ward I alderman Louis Buntin said to the representatives in attendance. “We didn’t know what we were doing when we started this. There was a lot of things we probably should have known prior to asking for bids. “There’s a lot to think about that we didn’t and haven’t.” Bids for trash collection services, based on an initial three-year contract, were received in March, but action on the matter has been slow due to various issues, including a lack of a quorum at two straight monthly meetings. A topic first broached a few years back by mayor Jamie Morey, standardized trash service went on the board of aldermen’s agenda last summer. The city hopes to save residents money while also reducing wear on roads and alleys attributed to numerous large vehicles from the four companies currently licensed to haul trash in the city traveling the same areas. All bids are for a maximum of eight 30-gallon bags, picked up once per week. Deffenbaugh, based out of Shawnee, Kan., would pick up large items by appointment at an extra cost, but those could also be disposed of during the twice annual cleanups. Those would include two 40-cubic yard dumpsters with an extra $125 per haul and $33 per ton cost for additional units needed. The base cost of Deffenbaugh’s bid would be $11.47 per residential unit. The company currently provides services to Edgerton, Savannah and Tracy, Mo., among many others including a large amount of operations in suburban Kansas. “We have the right combination of quality and cost,” said John Blessing, community relations manager for Deffenbaugh. “The bid shows that, I believe, our cost, is the right combination of competitive and stable over the long term. “Large enough to provide you with the quality you deserve and to not fail you and homegrown enough to understand the importance of a relationship and partnership instead of just being a provider.” Redgate Disposal, based out of nearby Edgerton, Mo., currently serves Smithville, Edgerton, Lawson, Platte City, Kearney, Liberty, Holt, Lathrop, Plattsburg, Gower, Dearborn, Camden Point, Faucett and south St. Joseph areas, according to its Facebook page. Terry and Cheryl Petersen have operated Redgate for the past nine plus years while living in Edgerton. “My wife and I are grateful to the council for finally taking the reins on this,” Petersen said. “It’s been a long time coming. I really appreciate you guys doing this. It’s better for the city. The citizens of the community are going to benefit greatly. “It’s going to be cleaner, safer, quicker, better for everybody, and I appreciate the opportunity to be in this bidding process.” The base service price for Redgate was listed at $14.38 per month, but the city-wide cleanup days would be free. One bulky item per week could also be left at the curbside each week along with the normal bag limit at no additional cost. All About Trash’s bid was for $8 per househould but with no specifics listed for large item pickup. Cost for the twice annual cleanup day would be $200 per container plus landfill costs, which assumedly would be handed down to customers. Buntin also asked at the most recent meeting about a possible recycling program, which both representatives agreed could cause problems with residents. “We didn’t ask for that,” Buntin said. “We probably should have.” Currently, the North Platte School District offers large recyclable collection areas at the high school, while maintaining the cost associated. Buntin didn’t know if the city should foot the bill for that type of service but expressed interest in the curbside pickup for recycling.