1994-10-04 CC Minutes Special
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MINUTES
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ORGANIZED COLLECTION
OCTOBER 4, 1994
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Mike Potter; Councilmembers Sharon
Anderson, Albert Barthel, Duane Berning, John Vetsch
STAFF PRESENT: Interim City Administrator Dale Powers
OTHERS PRESENT: Gary Johnson. John Sundman. Curt Corrow. Gary
Schwenzfeier. Charlie Knott(?)
The meeting was called to order by Potter @ 7:31pm.
Anderson moved to waive reading of the public notice. Motion died
for lack of a second. Potter read the notice of public hearing.
Powers reviewed with the Council the 9/23/94 memorandum
discussing organized collection.
Potter reminded the Council and the audience that he will control
the meeting, and will gavel anyone would is out of order.
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Berning asked if all the haulers who pickup garbage in
Albertville are in attendance. Corrow stated that LaPlant does
not have a representative here, but the other haulers will speak
for LaPlant.
Barthel asked the haulers about the weight of the trucks. Corrow
stated that the trucks weigh about 8 tons fully loaded--no worse
than a school bus.
Vetsch asked the haulers what do they do on the route, do they
come in empty or do they pick up along the way to Albertville?
Corrow replied that each hauler does it differently depending on
where they come from. Sundman (of Best Disposal) stated that they
pickup in Rockford and St. Michael on Wednesday and in
Albertville on Thursday. Vetsch asked if it is possible for all
of the haulers to pickup on the same day, and come in empty
trucks.
No comments were given in reply.
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Sundman offered some general comments relative to organized
collection. Sundman stated that he would like to see the system
stay as it is for the following reasons: the customer is king;
various levels of service, including valet, senior, alternate
week, etc,; the customer can choose either a hauler who provides
containers or a hauler who does not provide containers; the free
enterprise system allows for competitive prices. An organized
collection system puts city government in an active role in
refuse collection. This may put the City in the position of
possibly being the "complaint department" for garbage problems.
Further, with a one-hauler system there would be no flexibility
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to customize service to meet differing customer wants, and that
with less competition the prices would go up.
If districts were set up, it would have to be where there are
equal numbers of customers in each district. If customers have
extra services they demand, it could create problems if the
designated hauler in that district did not offer those extras.
Potter indicated that if the City enters into an organized
collection system, he would prefer districts. Potter asked the
haulers how many customers they have in Albertville. Sundman
replied that Best has 200 customers with Albertville addresses.
Corrow indicated that he has 150 customers in Albertville and
that LaPlant has between 130-140 customers.
Corrow, in adding to Sundman's general remarks about organized
collection, indicated that even if residential collection is
organized, the commercial accounts would not be and that the
trucks would still be coming into town to pick up those accounts.
Corrow discussed the system in place in Elk River and Champlin,
where new residents are assigned a hauler without regard to
geographic area.
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Barthel asked if the City was divided into districts, and if
there were more haulers that wanted to do business in
Albertville, would the City need to expand the number of
districts. Corrow replied that the City (Elk River) issues
licenses to the three haulers, so that no new haulers can do
business in Elk River.
Berning asked the haulers whether their garbage goes to the
Wright County Compost. Sundman said Best's residential garbage
goes to the compost, but the commercial goes to a transfer
station in Norwood. Corrow replied that all of his garbage goes
to the compost. Potter mentioned that his main concern is that
Albertville's garbage should be going to the compost. Berning
said that he feels the county is pushing for organized
collection.
Sundman mentioned that he thinks the county wants the revenue
from organized collection, and that the compost is not producing
the desirable class 1 compost, only the class 2 that has
"exceedances" of heavy metals. Sundman feels that the operation
at the compost should be converted to another use. Potter asked
whether that could be another transfer station. Sundman said that
might be an option in the future.
Resident Gary Johnson expressed the opinion that he enjoys the
choice of haulers in Albertville, and feels the system should
remain as it is.
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Charlie Knott (of Best Disposal) weighed in with the thought that
Sundman and Corrow expressed his thoughts, as well. Knott feels
that government tries to do too much and the customer enjoys the
freedom to choose haulers and should continue to do so.
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Potter expressed a concern over how much the trucks weigh when
they come into town, empty or full. Potter feels a compromise
actions might be to cut down on the number of days that garbage
is picked up. Vetsch would like to try a system or informal
"organized" collection without the legal formality involved.
Berning agreed with Vetsch. Potter would like a modification of
the current system that appeals to both sides that avoids the
problem of have garbage cans out every day of the week. Berning
indicated that the garbage cans that are out cause problems with
street maintenance and snow plowing. Anderson asked if Elk River
could be contacted on how they operate their organized collection
system. Powers was directed by the Council do investigate the Elk
River organized collection system.
Vetsch/Barthel unanimous to close the public hearing @ 8:26 pm.
The sense of the Council was to appoint a committee of
councilmembers to investigate this issue. Powers was directed by
the Council to put this issue on the follow-up sheet for further
reference.
Potter/Anderson 3-1 (Berning) to appoint Berning and Vetsch to
this committee.
Barthel/Vetsch unanimous to adjourn @ 8:31 pm.
Mike Potter, Mayor
Dale Powers, Interim City Administrator
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