Alderman says proposal would create ‘nightmare’
One Columbia official says it would be a “total nightmare” if garbage collection changes from one day a week to four.
Waste Pro, the city’s contractor, approached the Board of Aldermen Tuesday about making the change, but the board delayed action until a special meeting set for Tuesday, Nov. 27.
Waste Pro had both the Columbia and Marion County contracts, but the county is taking over its own collections on Dec. 3.
Waste Pro Division Manager Chris Lockwood said things have to change in the city because of that. He proposed a four-day collection schedule with different areas being picked up Tuesday through Friday by the same truck and crew. Currently garbage is picked up across the city on Mondays using four trucks and crews.
The proposed changes did not sit well with Mayor Justin McKenzie and the aldermen, who scheduled a special meeting for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to allow City Attorney Lawrence Hahn time to review the contract.
During a 50-minute discussion at Tuesday’s board meeting, Lockwood and the board went back and forth about collection dates and the contract.
“With the county taking over, we can’t pick it all up on Mondays,” Lockwood told the board. “That’s why we’re proposing four routes spread out over the four days. Tuesday through Thursday would be the heavier days and Friday would be a shorter day. We’re prepared to send out letters to the customer and put it in the newspaper and on the radio to let people know.”
The board’s concerns began immediately after Lockwood introduced the plan to change the routes.
“I have a concern the four-day pickup will be a total nightmare,” Alderman-at-Large Edward Hough said. “Maybe we could split it in half and do it over two days, but four?”
Hough said he knows that City Hall and the aldermen will get numerous phone calls about the changes.
“The letter will have our phone number for those with concerns,” Lockwood said. “There’s no way I can route the city in two days. The four days is the best I can do it.”
Hough was not satisfied with the answer. “I anticipate a total nightmare,” he said.
“Four days is how I can do it now with the number of trucks and people available,” Lockwood said. “We will have one truck, one driver and one helper in Columbia four days a week.”
McKenzie said he could accept a two-day collection but was opposed to the four-day route.
“I just don’t have the capacity to do it that way,” Lockwood replied, saying that routing is at the contractor’s discretion in most cases. “It’s just not going to be doable in two days. At the end of the day, I don’t run a charity.”
Hahn noted that the city’s contract with Waste Pro would be up next fall and only had about 10 months left.
“The slightest disruption of services creates a mountain of problems,” he said.
Hough said that the service provided by Waste Pro has been good but now he had concerns.
“To be honest, I’ve been happy with you guys … until now,” he said.
Lockwood said the company could be flexible during December and stretch Monday collections out for several weeks to accommodate notifying residents.
“We have to look at two things,” he said. “We want to make it the least disruptive but also cost-effective.”
The board then voted unanimously to table any decision on the routes until Tuesday’s special meeting.
