The Jefferson City Council has approved a contract extension for Allied Waste that will keep the trash provider operating through May as the city prepares to potentially change providers.
At the City Council meeting Monday, the bill to extend the current contract, which would have expired Oct. 15, through May 31 to allow the city time to adjust to any changes in a new trash contract.
The city is in the process of evaluating new bids, with the hopes of having a new contract in place by the end of the year. City staff members have said even if the city chooses a new provider before the Allied Waste contract ends, they will need time to start up the new service and inform residents of any potential changes.
In November 2009, the city entered into a six-year contract with Allied Waste for exclusive service to city residents. Though several companies had expressed an interest in bidding on the service, Allied was the only bid received by the city. An ordinance passed earlier that year made the service mandatory, and not subscribing to it is a violation of city code.
In other business, a bill to approve the 2016 budget was introduced Monday, though it likely will be placed on the informal calendar at the next council meeting on Aug. 17 if the budget committee has not yet finished its work. The committee, which consists of the entire council, is meeting on Mondays and Thursdays to discuss the draft budget until they are ready to approve it.
The 2016 budget must be approved prior to the start of the new fiscal year Nov. 1.
A public hearing on the draft budget also will be held at the Aug. 17 City Council meeting.
Also, the city's parking division was recognized for its service by receiving the Sam B. Cook award from the Downtown Association, which had been announced at the association's annual fundraiser Saturday.
Stephanie Bell, association president, gave the award, again, to Britt Smith, operations division director, and James "Buck" Wilson, parking division supervisor, at the meeting Monday noting how much the division had worked with the association throughout the past year.
"These folks often get a bad rap," Bell said.
"They are both responsive and flexible."