By Susan Redden

sredden@joplinglobe.com

The Joplin City Council on Monday tabled action on a request to revise the trash collection approach in town until several questions raised at a public hearing can be addressed by Allied Waste, the contract hauler proposing the change.

The panel by a 7-1 vote approved motions to delay for a month action on two ordinances that would put into place a new collection system using wheeled polycarts.

The council asked the hauler to address several issues raised by residents, particularly a proposal that households needing a second cart be charged a rental fee of $5 per month. Seven residents spoke at a public hearing on the proposal.

Jennifer Fagan, a spokeswoman for Allied, said the 96-gallon polycarts to be provided residents will hold the equivalent of three trash cans of waste and will be large enough to accommodate the weekly needs of most households. The plan requires that all waste be inside the cart for automated pickup service.

Questions

Residents, in response to their questions, were told that if they have more waste than the cart can hold, the overflow would need to go in the second cart, at an extra charge, or saved until pickup the next week.

“I love the idea of a standard system, but I have a five-member family,” said Kevin York, of West Highland Drive. “That one cart wouldn’t be enough, and I’d have to pay $5 more.”

He said the proposal “comes at a time when people are struggling, and big families especially can’t afford it.”

Lloyd Buehner, who lives on East 34th Street, complimented Allied’s service but questioned the proposed rate structure.

“If you have to add another cart, that’s a 50 percent increase,” he said. “I think the extra carts should go to families that need them at no extra cost.”

Barbara Medler, of East 35th Street, said she thinks the large carts would be difficult for older residents to get to and from their houses, particularly if their yards are not level.

James Fitzgerald, of South Joplin Avenue, said the new system would not work on one-way streets like his. He said he didn’t like the idea of having to hang on to trash from one week to the next.

Fagan said accommodations would be made for areas with special collection needs, and for elderly and disabled residents who might have trouble getting the cart to and from the street.

Maurice Filson, of Vermont Avenue, said he is satisfied with the current service and concerned that the new plan would lead to higher costs for residents.

Rate increase

Joplin’s residential trash pickup rate is $9.25 a month, which includes a 40-cent billing fee and a 15-cent management fee. Under the contract in place, the rate will go to $9.77, which includes the same fees, as of April 1.

Annual rate adjustments are based on the Consumer Price Index for water, sewer and trash collection services, and the Transportation Services Index, whichever is greater. The rate this year increased 5.9 percent, officials said.

To questions from the council, City Manager Mark Rohr said he had surveyed other cities using the system, including Bentonville, Ark., Carthage and Carl Junction, and had received positive comments from their officials.

“Bentonville has been using it the longest, and they have been very satisfied,” he said. “But everyone said the contractor made adjustments to work through any issues. Allied has a good reputation for being customer-friendly.”

Councilmen Mike Seibert, Bill Scearce and Jim West all called for more answers to be provided before ordinances enacting the change are considered.

“I favor polycarts, and Allied has a good history, but some valid points have been brought up,” Seibert said. “I’d like to see them look at providing the second cart at no charge.”

Motions by Scearce and West to table action on the two ordinances for a month were approved 7-1, with Benjamin Rosenberg dissenting. Councilman Phil Stinnett was absent.





Proposal



Allied Waste officials say the change would expedite trash pickup, reduce labor costs, and improve safety for workers and residents. Wheeled polycarts provided to residents would be picked up and emptied by automated trucks, instead of crews having to manually pick up and empty trash cans. The trucks are too large to navigate in alleys, so the carts would be placed along the street.