Rolling Meadows narrows choices on garbage collection
After months of discussion, Rolling Meadows inched closer to a decision about its garbage collection provider.
The committee of the whole on Tuesday narrowed down its choices to two outside companies or the city's public works department, and officials said they plan to make a recommendation on the proposals in June.
Although none of the six outside proposals the city received matched the services the public works department provides, those by the two other finalists, Groot and Veolia, were very close, Public Works Director Fred Vogt said.
The Groot proposal would cost residents $16.58 a month, and the Veolia proposal would cost $17.52 a month, while the public works proposal to stay with the current services would cost $24.10 a month.
Both outside companies have offered to buy the city's garbage collection equipment, for differing prices, but did not say what would happen to the employees who collect refuse for the city if officials opt to outsource the service.
Garbage collection has been an issue before but usually knocked down by residents who are reluctant to see their level of service change. With that in mind, when asking for proposals officials looked for as close as an apples-to-apples comparison as possible, said Alderman John D'Astice, who was on the committee that discussed the issue.
“Should the sign on the truck change from Rolling Meadows to Groot or Veolia, or should it stay the same, the residents will not see a difference in the service they're going to be getting, and that was the whole key,” D'Astice said.
D'Astice said there are still minor cost and services issues to work out, but that those will be finalized by the June committee of the whole meeting, when the council will be able to make a recommendation.
Although some council members were previously opposed to a change, the predicted cost savings may sway their opinion.
“If this had come in and been a dollar or two difference from what we do, it wouldn't make any sense to me,” Alderman Brad Judd said. “But it's very difficult for me to overlook such good cost savings.”
The council also discussed getting public input but decided to wait until after the June meeting when it will be more clear if the city is leaning toward outsourcing.
“We're probably going to get a line out the door for people who want to speak, and I'm not opposed to that, but the sooner we can have those conversations and move forward, the sooner we can start saving the residents money,” Judd said.