The city of Gillett reversed its plan to outsource residential garbage collection in 2014 after hitting a snag regarding its recycling contract with Oconto County.
The contract requires that garbage be taken to the MAROCO Landfill if a municipality partners with a private firm for garbage collection. Gillett officials were not aware of the MAROCO requirement until the county alerted the city in mid-October. The MAROCO Landfill is jointly owned by Marinette and Oconto counties.
Hauling the garbage to MAROCO would substantially increase the cost of contracting with a private firm, said Public Works Director Tim Christensen, who estimated it would add $12,500 to the bill each year.
The city negotiated a five-year contract with Harter’s Fox Valley Disposal, of Wittenberg, at a cost of $50,000 annually, which corresponds to $8.35 per month per resident. In October, the council agreed to charge residents $100 for garbage collection to be provided by Harter’s beginning in January.
Because the contract with Harter’s had not been finalized, Gillett will not be penalized, Christensen said.
City officials have discussed garbage collection alternatives since 2012 because of the cost of the service and the age of the garbage truck. The 12-year-old truck is past its life expectancy.
“The plan is to keep the truck running as long as possible,” Mayor Irene Drake said.
When the truck is no longer functioning, the city can look at leasing, contracting with a private hauler or consider other options, she said.
Garbage pickup is budgeted to cost the city $56,000 in 2013, but was anticipated to break even for 2014 with the new fee and the private contractor taking over.
Now the city plans to continue its current practice for pickup. Residential garbage pickup will remain on Thursdays, with downtown pickup on Wednesdays.
Residents will be invoiced $78 annually, which is the cost to purchase 52 stickers — one per week for a year. Additional stickers may be purchased for $1.50 each. These stickers are placed on the garbage bags, and the bags are placed on the curb.
The contract with the county was first made in 1994 and has been renewed in five-year increments since then. It expires in December 2015, and city attorney Tim Schmid recommended the city wait until then to consider changes.
Some residents encouraged the council to seek an amended agreement with the county that would allow for private garbage collection, but Drake said there was not time to negotiate an amendment and have it approved by the Oconto County Solid Waste Committee and County Board.
“We can sit down and talk with them, but right now because of the budget issues we need to make a decision so the billing can get out,” Drake said.
The city will send $78 invoices in December to 480 residential properties and several small businesses. Payment is due within 20 days.
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