Tonight there was an attempt by Councilor Starr to end the Covid inspired ordinance that requires residents to drag their garbage cans to the curb for PRIVATE, FOR PROFIT garbage haulers. I put this in caps, because if they were public contractors, this would be fine, but by requiring citizens to do this for private companies, they are saving these companies a lot of dough in time and labor costs.
I have argued for a long time we should have a public garbage system, contracting with private companies, which would save taxpayers millions a year in tipping fees and labor costs.
All this does is allow the private haulers to make a lot more money without giving a discount, because as a private company, they are not required to do so, and with Mayor Ayn Rand on your side, why worry?
The council vote was 4-4, and once again, the mayor voted for big business over citizens, and now we are all paying more for less service using Covid as an excuse, which ironically never shut any business down in this town.
And Paul seems to be embarrassed for me that I call him a hypocrite?
I do not live in the city limits. So what would I do if the city has city run garbage?
I agree that garbage hauling should be a city function. Most residential streets have trucks many times a week when one truck once a week makes more sense. Of course there’d be Union thing and higher overhead but cost in general would be less and there’d be less street damage.
If we’re still lots of vendors. It’s private vendors the city can’t regulate. As for me, whomever picks up my trash where I place it will be my choice. Generally, the city is foolishness. It’s best to ignore what they can’t enforce with citations because there’s no appeal into court.
I read that COVID is now more rampant in red states. The Republicans must be planning to have the dead vote.
Can you break down who vote for and against this, the 4-4; thank you in advance.
Take away the private haulers leaving no competition does nothing good for saving money. I have lived in many places with public service and it is often more expensive as well as less predictable as far as actual service goes. I will stick with private services, thanks, and the option to switch to another company if I am having issues, which you can’t do when public is the only route you have.
Also, if you current hauler increased your rate due to Covid, switch companies. I use Novak and our rates have not changed one cent due to covid.
Republicans usually leave the “dead voting” to the Democrats, they are much better at it.
I cut my bill in half by moving to ACE as I was using Novak. Don’t get me wrong Novak was great but, wow spendy. In life you get what you pay for and I tell ya my water bill is outrageous and while I do understand that needs to be a govt thing, dang, they sure are not doing anything to get my water bill down. I can only imagine when we have to drop the 260 Million on a new water treatment facility what it will be then. Maybe if we had not bought all these Ramps, buildings, pools, etc we could afford to cut the water bills and such. I know I know crazy thinking on my part.
it’s only election fraud if a republican doesn’t win.
You’re right CH. Had the Democrats not cheated in the past, then things would even be worse. Although, are cheating still didn’t prevent NAFTA.
I had Novak when I lived in Colorado. The county did advertised bids. You paid independently and could opt out but nobody did. It was very cheap because they could do whole neighborhoods.
I use the same hauler as my neighbor. I am not sure what he pays.
Keep on raising my rates and then make me do more and more of your job!
Then use Covid as an excuse…..all B.S.!
Is the mayor going to make the rounds in the winter to helps out the elderly drag those cans to the curb in the cold and snow?
Many elderly live at home with home care. Most elderly prefer to stay at home as long as possible and avoid the nursing homes. Some are on oxygen. Some use walkers and cannot drag those containers to the curb.
What does the mayor have planned to help all those senior citizens? Was the mayor thinking about the citizens?
CH, Novak may be speedier (although with recycling points have been able to save $5 each month) but for our family their service is worth the price. With private options, it is great that as individuals we can choose from several companies here. If sanitation services go public, we won’t have options and may be left with no so great service for not so great costs and nowhere else to go.
The mayor was thinking that volunteers could take the cans to the curb. Volunteers like helping with the tornadoes last fall. By the way what happened with the FEMA money?
The tornados inference has jogged my memory. The mayor wants the cans on the other side of the infamous “Red Line,” does he not? Apparently, he sees it as his trash. What will taupe do, however? Do they admit to trash? Is it taupe?
Erica – I switched to ACE for half the price and they are just as good as Novak and I have been very pleased. Half my block has slowly switched over the last 6 months to ACE and we all used to use Novak. Both have the exact same service but, I was paying about $135 a quarter for the large cans and now I am paying $77 for the same size cans and the same service. I could not be happier