Cape Girardeau City Council to look at private trash collection

As it explores ways to save money on garbage pickup, Cape Girardeau will look at privatizing the entire operation, city manager Scott Meyer told the city council.

During the work session ahead of the regular council meeting, Meyer said a review of costs for private wastehaulers to take over the city service will go ahead while the Public Works Department reviews the cost for automating trash pickup.

To determine whether there are savings to be found, Meyer said he must understand whether a private company would provide all the services the city now offers. If not, he said, the portion that would be taken by a private company should not result in higher costs for the city.

"I am going to drill down on that issue and make sure we are protecting the citizen's pocketbook," Meyer said.

Last month, the council heard a plan from public works director Tim Gramling to buy 22,000 new trash bins and a fleet of trucks that have automated arms for dumping the bins. Each home would receive two bins, one for regular waste and one for recyclables.

The city is looking at the option of hiring a contractor for the garbage pickup, so that a single company would do all the work, or completely privatizing the operation, Gramling said. In that scenario, each resident would chose a company and several firms could operate trash removal within city limits.

One barrier to adopting a contract or private-hauler system, Gramling said, is that many companies are unwilling to agree to provide fall leaf pickup, storm debris removal or household hazardous waste collection.

The study of an automated collection program is also moving ahead. The city estimates it will cost about $2 million to purchase the bins and trucks, but the payroll savings would provide relief to the city general fund budget. Gramling told the council Monday evening there will be demonstrations set up for residents to see the automated system in action.

The size of the new bins -- 65 gallon for trash and 95 gallon recycling bins -- has caused some concern. Ward 3 Councilwoman Debra Tracy suggested taking the bins to the Cape Girardeau Senior Center to allow retirees to see and test them. And Ward 6 Councilwoman Marcia Ritter said she is still receiving questions from residents, especially those who live on hills such as the subdivisions off Kage Road.

The council also heard from city engineer Kelly Green, who said a project to resurface Independence Street from Water Street to Sprigg Street will begin soon. Half of the street will be closed during the work, which includes new curbs and gutters as well as a new layer of asphalt.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Have a comment?

Log on to semissourian.com

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Cape Girardeau City Council

Agenda actions

Consent ordinances

* Approved Bill No. 09-133, an ordinance approving a settlement agreement and binding unilateral agreement with Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. and related entities relating to payment of business license taxes. Cape Girardeau will receive $47,519.04 plus $2,500 in cost reimbursements.

* Approved Bill No. 09-134, an ordinance amending the city code regarding camping on public property by eliminating the requirement that the council approve camping permits.

* Approved Bill No. 09-135, an ordinance appropriating up to $145,000 for operating and capital expenditures from the Convention and Tourism Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010.

* Approved Bill No. 09-136, an ordinance granting a special-use permit to Jason S. Coalter for maintaining and operating a marketing business at 232 Good Hope St.

* Approved Bill No. 09-137, an ordinance amending the boundaries of wards 4 and 6 to include annexed properties.

* Approved Bill No. 09-138, an ordinance levying of the annual city revenue tax at 30.04 cents per $100 assessed value, the public health tax at 5.62 cents per $100 assessed value and the Special Business District No. 2 tax at 67.08 cents per $100 assessed valuation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010.

New ordinances

* Approved Bill No. 09-141, an ordinance amending the city code regarding the terms of office for the Girardeau Goes Green Advisory Board. First reading.

* Approved Bill No. 09-144, an ordinance approving the record plat of Jeff Jackson Subdivision. First reading.

* Approved Bill No. 09-145, an ordinance approving the record plat of Cape West Crossings -- Phase II. First reading.

* Approved Bill No. 09-139, a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with the Safe House for Women Inc. for Emergency Shelter Grant funds from the Missouri Department of Social Services, Division of Family Services.

* Approved Bill No. 09-140, a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with the Salvation Army of Cape Girardeau for $28,784 in Emergency Shelter Grant funds from the Missouri Department of Social Services, Division of Family Services.

* Approved Bill No. 09-142, a resolution authorizing the city manager to accept a $322,500 Neighborhood Stabilization Program Grant, Phase II, from the Missouri Department of Economic Development to acquire, rehabilitate and resell foreclosed homes and to execute all necessary grant documents.

* Approved Bill No. 09-143, a resolution acknowledging receipt of an annexation petition from D-7 Holdings LLC and Cape Properties LLC and setting a public hearing regarding the proposed annexation. D-7 Holdings LLC and Cape Properties LLC want the city to annex 14.14 acres east of Lampe Road to develop a retirement community to be known as Kensington Place.

Liquor licenses

* Conditional approval of a retail liquor by the drink license for Benjamin Burch, d/b/a Margarita Mama\\'s, 701 N. Main St., Benjamin Burch, managing officer.

* Approval of 5 percent beer by-the-drink temporary liquor licenses for Fred Higdon, d/b/a Southeast Missouri District Fair, for an event to be held Sept. 10 to 19 in Arena Park.