Who will get a contract with Motley?
Listening to the council Representatives from two different solid waste hauling companies attended the Motley City Council meeting Nov. 24. Pictured from left are Lona and Lerton Zander, with Long Prairie Sanitation; and Greg Revering, with Waste Management. Both companies have submitted bids to the council, with hopes of contracting for the city's waste and recycling removal. (Staples World photo by Dawn Schimpp Timbs) The City of Motley is still undecided as to who they will contract with for their solid waste and recycling removal.
At their regular meeting Nov. 24, the Motley City Council spent time discussing the bids of three solid waste hauling companies: Waste Management; Long Prairie Sanitation; and Bob LeMieur Refuse & Recycling.
Previously, the city had a contract with Killian Sanitation LLC; but that contract was terminated recently when the business was sold to Waste Management. Until the city signs a new contract, Waste Management will continue to provide services to the city.
A committee (formed to look at bids and compare costs/services of the abovementioned companies) had voted unanimously Nov. 18, to recommend the city contract with Long Prairie Sanitary Service, Inc.
According to the minutes from the committee meeting, provided by committee member Terri Smith, "The decision was a difficult one to come to as all companies had many of the same things to offer and some different things that they brought to the table. All were eager to meet the needs of the city and would have been great to work with. Although it was not the sole determining factor, Long Prairie Sanitary Service, Inc., had the lowest prices."
Other committee members include Bruce Mills, Duane Solga and Bruce Brotherton.
Although the committee had clearly decided that the city should contract with Long Prairie Sanitation, a revised bid from Waste Management was presented to the council Nov. 24, which showed a savings of $1.18 per household less for trash only; and $.81 less including recycling than Long Prairie.
In addition, the new information showed that WM is $1.82 per household less for trash only and $1.36 including recycling, than Bob LeMieur; and that Long Prairie is $.64 per household less for trash only and $.54 including recycling, than Bob LeMieur.
Smith, who is also the City Clerk/Treasurer, noted that information in regard to Bob LeMieur's bid had also been changed since the committee met. The prices he submitted already included tax, which was not understood in the price-comparison spread sheet first provided to the committee.
The new spread sheet - available at the council meeting Nov. 24 - took out the extra tax for Bob Le- Mieur; and also showed that Waste Management, with their reduction in recycling rates, would be the lowest proposal.
This information was not available to the committee when they met Nov. 18, noted Council member Rob Sampson, who also served as Acting Mayor in Mayor Konrad Alexander's absence at the meeting Nov. 24. Sampson made a motion that this be remanded back to the committee.
Smith explained to the council that the city's contract with Morrison County Solid Waste requires that the city sort and separate its recycling. Co-mingling is not allowed.
WM representative Greg Revering, who was at the council meeting Nov. 24, explained to the council that his company's original bid was for co-mingled recycling. However, when WM found out (from Morrison County Solid Waste) that recycling couldn't be co-mingled, they bid it for what the city could accept; and showed that they could do the source separated recycling for less than the comingled.
Lerton and Lona Zander, with Long Prairie Sanitation, were also at the council meeting Nov. 24.
Lerton expressed concern that WM had been given the opportunity to change their bid.
"At some point, shouldn't the bids be sealed?" Lerton asked, later adding that he didn't feel that this (accepting new information) was above board. "We weren't given an opportunity to change our bid after it was presented to the committee," Lerton said to the council.
Revering said that WM
did not change their bid. "Recycling is the same as it
was with Killian's; but we did change the trash bin, eliminating the single sort bin." Revering said that his company needed to compare apples to apples.
Smith mentioned to the council that all of the companies were given the same opportunity at the beginning of this process to see what numbers had been bid.
Council member Duane Solga, also a committee member, said he didn't feel his decision would change even after hearing this new information. He said the committee liked the fact that both Long Prairie and Bob LeMieur (from Little Falls) represented a smalltown feel. "We'd prefer to keep a small company going," Solga said.
Revering, from Monticello, said that, although WM is large, they are trying to portray a 'local feel.' There will be a local site phone number available for city residents; and when they call in they will meet "normal ma and pa type people," he said. "The driver will be local, too."
After some discussion,
In other matters the council:
o HEARD that the Motley Fire Dept. purchased a new used grass rig for approximately $9,400 or $9,500... less than what they had been approved to spend.
o APPROVED the certification to property taxes of the unpaid utility bills (totalling $3,516.10) if not paid by 3 p.m. Nov. 25.
o TABLED moving forward on a resolution for the Beaulieu Street Area Project. City Engineer Aric Welch reminded the council that the resolution will need a 4/5 vote; and with Mayor Alexander and council member Bruce Mills gone, that wouldn't be possible.
o HEARD concerns from council member Nancy Nieken that the city's Christmas lights/decorations would not be up for Thanksgiving. Maintenance Assistant Bruce Brotherton said that they had run out of lightbulbs; but that they planned to put decorations up the following week.
o SET next regular council meeting for Tuesday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m.
