Allied will haul trash for next 10 years

Council unanimously approves resolution on solid waste pick

Trucks dump trash at edge of the Allied Waste landfill in Jefferson City.
Trucks dump trash at edge of the Allied Waste landfill in Jefferson City.

After no discussion, the Jefferson City Council was quick to approve a resolution selecting Allied Waste as the city's exclusive trash provider for the next 10 years.

At the meeting Tuesday, the council unanimously approved a resolution allowing staff to proceed with contracts with Allied Waste. The contract approval will come either later this month or in January.

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.

Last month, the city made public the bids from Allied Waste and Waste Corporation of America on the city's trash service moving forward.

Proposals from Allied and WCA contained rates lower than what residents, and many businesses, are currently paying. However, surprisingly, that lower rate did not come with much change in service.

An evaluation committee made up of Janice McMillan, director of planning and protective services; Bill Betts, director of IT and finance at the time; and Matt Morasch, director of public works, recommended the City Council proceed with a 10-year, exclusive contract with Allied Waste.

LU police powers approved

The council also suspended the rules to both introduce and vote on a bill to give Lincoln University police enforcement powers on certain city streets. The bill was unanimously approved in an 8-0 vote, with 4th Ward Councilman Carlos Graham abstaining as an employee of Lincoln University and 3rd Ward Councilman Ken Hussey absent from Tuesday's meeting.

The idea for shared enforcement stemmed out of the university's original request that the city vacate Chestnut Street, which would allow the university to close the street to cars and create a pedestrian plaza.

That request had stalled several times at the City Council, with the most recent attempt turning to a resolution seeking to allow temporary closures of the street from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Third Ward Councilman Bob Scrivner said that resolution had been abandoned after council members received feedback against even a temporary closure at this time.

The newly approved parking enforcement ordinance gives LU police the authority to enforce city code on Atchison Court; Atchison Street from Chestnut Street to Locust Street; Chestnut Street from Leslie Boulevard to Dunklin Street; the south side of East Dunklin Street from Lafayette Street to Locust Street; the east side of Lafayette Street from Stadium Boulevard to Dunklin Street; and the west side of Locust Street from Atchison Street to East Dunklin Street.