Waste Management Inc. is expected to stop collecting residential garbage in Texarkana, Ark., and the city's Board of Directors took steps at its regular meeting Tuesday to prepare for the company's departure.
The board approved a resolution to offer seven-year contract extensions to the city's three trash collection companies, including Waste Management, at their current rate, $9.62 per household per month.
It also began the process necessary to transfer Waste Management's collection routes to the other two companies, Richardson Waste II Inc. and Edmondson's Trash Service, when Waste Management rejects the contract offer.
In a June 16 letter, Waste Management indicated to the city that it cannot continue residential services beyond the current term of its contract without an increase in rates, according to board agenda materials.
The letter came after a meeting of the city's Solid Waste Management Committee on June 8 and a workshop meeting attended by the committee and the board June 13. Both meetings concerned the Sept. 30 expiration of all three garbage-collection contracts.
Those meetings ended with the committee recommending extending the companies' contracts at their current pay rate, but that was unacceptable to Waste Management.
"Waste Management informed us that they had to have an increase per household of $1.19 per month. The board at that (June 13) meeting voted against giving them that increase," Ward 4 Director Travis Odom said.
Richardson and Edmonson's have indicated they can take on Waste Management's routes without any service interruption or rate increase, Odom said.
"They have assured us there will be no lack of service if Waste Management leaves the city."
To prepare for that eventuality, the board began the process of making a smooth transition.
Directors heard a first reading of an ordinance proposed by Odom that would allow the board to waive competitive bidding and contract with Richardson and Edmonson's to fulfill the city's needs after Waste Management leaves.
Second and third readings of the ordinance and then a vote will follow at successive board meetings in the coming weeks.
Waste Management representative Doug Sims assured the board that the company would not stop providing service until its replacements are ready to take on the work.
"We don't intend to put you in a bind in any way," he said.
Directors also voted to approve an ordinance that funds the purchase of new computer hardware for Texarkana Water Utilities. At a cost of $81,906.31, the hardware will replace obsolete server infrastructure in TWU's computer network. The Arkansas side's portion of the cost is $30,346.29. The Texas-side City Council is expected to vote on funding the remainder of the expense at its meeting Aug. 8.
In other business, the board increased the fire department's overtime budget by $50,000. Interim Fire Chief David Fletcher requested the increase because of an unusual amount of illness and injury among Arkansas-side firefighters recently.
Directors accepted a grant that will fund repairs and renovations at Arkansas Municipal Auditorium. The Historic Preservation Restoration Grant will be used to make the auditorium's lobby restrooms wheelchair accessible and repair the building's rear wall.
Total cost for the project is $49,756.00. The grant is for $33,170.00, the Arkansas-side Advertising and Promotions Commission will contribute $15,612.00, and the remaining $974.00 will come from the city Public Works Department's budget.
The board scheduled a public hearing regarding trains blocking roads for extended times. Requested by Ward 2 Director Laney Harris, the hearing will take place during the board's meeting Aug. 1. Residents will be able to voice their concerns about Union Pacific Railroad trains blocking Pinehurst Street and Seibert Street.
The board's next regular meeting is scheduled for July 18.