Rolling Meadows to keep its trash service

Sometimes a garbage truck is just a garbage truck, but not in Rolling Meadows.

Council members trashed the long-debated resolution to solicit requests for proposals for privatization of its refuse collection in favor of authorizing a contract to purchase a new garbage truck to continue in-house refuse collection.

The debate for privatizing the city’s refuse service is nothing new. However, the council’s vote to stick with the current system and to replace the city’s current 2002 truck — which has cost $92,623 in repairs and maintenance to date — with a 2012 Peterbilt Chassis and a McNeilus 20 Yard Refuse Packing Body for $188,317, solidified council members’ resolve to keep garbage collection in-house.

“Any time changes come up residents say they don’t want to change anything,” Alderman Jim Larsen said, noting he would need a lot more convincing to authorize an request for proposals process that could potentially cost up to several thousand dollars.

Alderman Brad Judd, who initially suggested the resolution, told councilmen that he doesn’t necessarily agree that privatization is the way to go, but stressed that the option needed to be discussed if there is a cost savings to be had. Judd asked that if the council decided not to privatize that public works officials come back with ways to save costs on their own.

The continued discussion on the issue frustrated council members.

“I’m getting so tired of hearing this over and over. I haven’t heard anyone complain,” Alderman Larry Buske said. “I don’t see how it could possibly be cheaper. If the residents want us to do something, let’s get a referendum on a ballot.”

Alderman John Pitzaferro expressed his allegiance to the city’s public works-based refuse system.

“I have four kids and an eight-pound dog; we make a lot of garbage. It would take a small miracle to get me to support a change to our garbage service. I don’t want a sticker. I don’t want a bin. I want it the way it is now,” he said.