WASTE DIFFICULT ISSUE TO DISCARD

Solid waste became an issue not easily discarded by the Cape Girardeau City Council.

The council agreed in January to seek bids on the city's residential trash service from private haulers. Now city staff members are voicing concern over aspects of a potential contract with a private trash hauler.

Among key areas are the length of contract that would be up for bid and the city's responsibility to take care of retirement and vacation benefits owed the city's 28-member solid waste crew when the current contract expires.

Another concern was whether or not an alternate bid offering the option for a reduction in services should be allowed.

On Monday, Assistant City Manger and Public Works Director Doug Leslie presented a report to the city council outlining the type of bid documents for solid waste services to be considered.

Upon learning that the contract would be an initial three-year pact with two one-year renewal options, Cape Mayer Gene Rhodes indicated his preference for a longer contract.

"I don't think you're going to get the most competitive bids unless you lengthen the contract into a 3-year contract with two 3-year options," said Rhodes.

Said Leslie: "But if it's a bad contract, the one I proposed would be too long."

Councilman Mary Wulfers said the uncertain nature of solid waste laws and regulations warrants a short-term contract. "I don't think we would want to put a longer contract up for bid, because we just don't know about the future of solid waste," she said.

The next item that sparked lengthy debate was the $76,000 retirement and vacation benefits package that Leslie suggested would be passed on to the company whose bid is accepted.

"I don't think we need to do that to the company that takes over," said Rhodes. "That's a bill the city is responsible for and should not be passed on to someone else. That money should already be put away."

Leslie pointed out that since the service would be up for bid, the benefits package is something the new solid waste company would inherit.

Said Councilman David Limbaugh, "I think the way to look at this is, `Are we trying to get the best deal for the citizens of Cape Girardeau?' We don't want to pass a debt of $76,000 to the citizens."

Rhodes argued that the benefits debt assumed by the new solid waste company likely would be passed on to the consumers in the form of a higher bill. Leslie said that the money owed the current solid waste staff already has been taken into account with the draft specifications and that a careful study of the bids was part of the overall plan.

City councilman Doug Richards warned that if the bids were not competitive enough, Cape Girardeau citizens might feel compelled to demand an alternate service.

"Right now we have an ordinance that says you will use the city's trash pickup," Richards said. "But what are we going to do if 2,000 people say they don't feel like it anymore? I just feel like it's going to be an issue that won't go away."

Another item is a $1.50 per ton surcharge tax that could be added to the cost of solid waste. "The voters of Stoddard County, where our trash is taken, will vote on April 5 to determine whether that surcharge is added," said Leslie. He indicated the surcharge would amount to 8 to 10 cents extra per customer per month.

During Monday's regular city council meeting, Brenda Dohogne suggested the city consider a bid offering a reduction in solid waste services.

"I'm glad that you're putting solid waste up for private bid, but I'm just wondering, ~`Are you going to allow bids that would offer a reduced bill based on alternative service?'" she said.

"I've talked to people in southwest Minnesota who have saved as much as 89 cents on their bill. If you would make leaf collection and recyclable trash optional, it could be a savings of as much as $1.15."

The city council approved by motion the specifications and bid documents for solid waste services and authorized the city staff to put the services out for bid.

Cape City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said the city would be among those submitting a bid on the solid waste services.

In other city council business Monday:

-- At the urging of Maunty Collins, senior vice president for Boyd Gaming Corp., the council placed a local vote on riverboat gambling on the June 7 ballot. It's the third local option vote on riverboat gambling.

-- The council approved a resolution adopting the 1994-1999 capital improvements program.

-- The council also approved by motion the plans for the recreation projects at Shawnee and Osage Parks and authorized the architects to proceed with development of final specifications and plans to put these up for public bid.

-- The council approved a resolution to urge the Department of the Navy to keep the Naval Reserve Building open for emergency use in the event of an earthquake.