By Lori Carlson, Editor
In the next six months, Prior Lake residents could see a change in how their garbage is hauled – and who hauls it.
Council members agreed Monday to explore alternatives to the city’s current system of refuse collection. The city licenses hauling companies, and it’s up to each resident and business to contract with a company. The city has no billing, collection or operational obligations currently.
“A change is needed. It’s not organized now,” said Councilman Chad LeMair.
The aim is to have less wear and tear on city streets and find equal or better prices and recycling programs than what’s currently available, said Jane Kansier, building and transportation services director.
Mayor Jack Haugen said aesthetics also are an issue.
“People get tired of seeing different containers on a street on any given day,” Haugen said.
Four licensed haulers currently operate in Prior Lake. Their monthly rates range from $13.95 to $16.95, depending upon container size. All four include recycling in their fees.
The city is considering options such as contracting with one hauler for the entire city, or dividing the city into quadrants and assigning a specific collection day to each area, similar to the city of Bloomington’s system.
Council members rejected a suggestion that the city also could operate its own hauling system, saying local government shouldn’t get involved in the day-to-day operations of garbage collection.
Councilman Steve Millar also said he doesn’t like the idea of a single contractor because it “suppresses competition.”
The cost of a single-contractor system – such as that used by the city of Shakopee – would mirror that of Prior Lake’s current open system, Kansier said. Both systems cost residents between $12 and $17 per month. Farmington’s city-operated system costs that city’s residents between $14 and $20 per month.
A quadrant system would designate collection days for each section of the city, reducing some garbage-truck trips and increasing curbside appeal by not having cans out every day on a particular street, Kansier said.
Council members asked Kansier to come back to a future meeting with a new list of alternatives based on their feedback. If the city chooses to change its collection system, it must, by state law, announce the change at least six months before implementing a new system. A public hearing and discussion with all licensed haulers also are required.
Lori Carlson can be reached at (952) 345-6378 or editor@plamerican.com [1].
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