NEW ALBANY — The city of New Albany is one step closer to knowing who will handle its garbage and recycling services.
The Board of Works and Public Safety opened four bids for the services during a regular meeting Tuesday. The bids were made by Industrial Disposal, Clark-Floyd Landfill Eco-Tech LLC, Rumpke and City of New Albany Sanitation Workers/AFSCME Local 1861.
Industrial Disposal submitted the lowest bid, with Rumpke submitting the highest.
Mayor James Garner briefly reviewed the bids and said he plans to meet with City Attorney Shane Gibson and Board of Works President Anthony B. Toran to review and discuss them further. He expects a decision to be made on or before Dec. 13. The entity chosen is expected to begin services in January.
The city is in the midst of signing a garbage and recycling contract after Garner said something had to be done to eliminate an ongoing deficit in the Sanitation Department. The city has seen a deficit in that department over the last few years ranging from $700,000 to $900,000.
The mayor announced earlier this year his intention to enter into a public-private contract with Industrial Disposal for garbage collection. Negotiations failed and the city went through the process of rebidding the service.
In the meantime, the public has come out in support of the 29 sanitation workers who could be in danger of losing their jobs if the contract is awarded to a private company.
Sanitation workers have also gotten into the game by submitting their own bid, which union President Mickey Thompson said would keep garbage pickup a city service.
In their bid, the union proposes to raise user fees by $3, building and operating a transfer station and selling recycled goods to a vendor. Customers currently pay $13.75 per household, per month for garbage pickup.
Thompson said the union’s plan is to also eliminate what sanitation workers say are problematic garbage-collecting vehicles that were purchased by former mayor Regina Overton and buying five rear-loader trucks that have been used in the past. Sanitation workers say the Overton-era trucks don’t fit in all city alleys and have caused the collapse of garages in the city.
The union also proposes using riverboat-gambling money to pay the remaining balance on garbage containers that were purchased under Overton.
The city currently owes $243,000 on the garbage containers. It also owes $311,000 on six garbage trucks.
The Clark-Floyd bid proposed to employ 22 to 26 of the city’s sanitation workers. Rumpke also said it would give priority to those workers currently employed by the city if those people met the company’s criteria.
COLLECTION AND DELIVERY OF SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLABLES BIDS
• INDUSTRIAL DISPOSAL — $11.56 per household, per month
• RUMPKE — $17.63 per household, per month with a 5 percent franchise fee going to the City of New Albany
• CLARK-FLOYD LANDFILL ECO-TECH LLC — $12.90 per household, per month
• CITY OF NEW ALBANY SANITATION WORKERS/AFSCME — $21 per ton for delivery. The bid proposes to build and operate a transfer station, increase the user fee by $3 and sell recyclables to a vendor.
Floyd County
Related Photos
-
Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen
Discussion
City Examines Sanitation Bids
- Floyd County
-
-
First Savings buys bank branches
The move will increase First Savings’ market share in Harrison County to about 31 percent and up the bank’s presence in Floyd County.
-
Free falling: CCE demolishes former New Albany business at no charge
-
Floyd judge named semifinalist for Indiana Supreme Court
Granger, 42, said she decided to apply after discussions with her family and close friends.
“I care enormously about my judicial service, and I want to expand my work statewide,” she said. -
Indiana granted No Child Left Behind waiver
As the deadline approaches, more schools are failing to meet requirements under the law, with nearly half not doing so last year, according to the Center on Education Policy.
- News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 9, 2012
-
Neace Lukens acquires Jenkins Insurance of Sellersburg
Jenkins Insurance principal Mike Jenkins will join the Neace Lukens’ New Albany office, where he’ll focus on his current employee benefit clients and expanding service and product platforms for the company.
-
Some lawmakers want you to cruise in for Sunday commerce
The current ban on motorcycle sales is a remnant of Indiana’s old “blue laws” that prohibited various activities on Sundays. The legislature has been slowly chipping away at them.
-
Court of appeals hears Messer appeal
Counseled by attorney Bart Betteau, the basis of Messer’s appeal was that his words were constitutionally-protected free speech. But Special Judge Roger Duvall upheld the merit commission’s decision in 2011.
-
Checkered past: Cab company’s permit suspended in New Albany after employee arrests
“We’re not an evil company,” White said after the meeting.
-
Utility vows to bring projects to council
Stormwater officials shared letters with the council from residents in the Castlewood neighborhood who credited the basin addition for easing flooding in the area.
- More Floyd County Headlines
-
First Savings buys bank branches
