With bids in, commissioners seek public input on recycling

Three waste disposal companies submitted bids to the New Rockford City Commission Monday.

While there was a clear low bid for the garbage removal portion of the contract, the recycling options were a bit murkier.

All three companies that had appeared before the commission in recent months as they evaluated options did submit bids: Waste Management, the current contract holder; Cathay-based Double M Sanitation and Recycle North Dakota, headquartered in Jamestown.

As for garbage removal services, Double M Sanitation submitted the lowest bid. Their $14,000 per month bid for the first year was more than $1,000 under the second lowest, Recycle N.D., which came in at $15,265 per month. Waste Management shaved over $500 per month off its current contracted rate of $17,033, but was still the highest at $16,550. All bidders were asked to quote rates for the first three years.

However, each of the three had different proposals for recycling services. Double M Sanitation, the low bidder overall, offered to bring in trailers for residents to bring their recyclables. Owner Brad Wolbert said the company was willing to offer the centralized, self-service recycling option at no additional cost. He added that they don't have the connections or the capabilities right now to offer curbside residential recycling to every household.

Waste Management's bid was "all or nothing" and billed a la carte, according to company representative Paul Kalibabky. The corporation offered residential recycling at $7.95 per cart per month, and each household would receive a second 96-gallon tote to put their recyclables. The recycling totes would be emptied monthly. While residences and businesses would not be required to recycle, they would all pay the monthly fee.

Recycle North Dakota offered several options. The one most similar to Waste Management's proposal would cost an additional $2,076 per month for residential recycling. Each household would receive a smaller, 64-gallon tote for garbage and a 96-gallon tote for recyclables. The recycling totes would be emptied bi-weekly. With 525 households in the city, the cost breaks down to $3.95 per cart.

The "recycling for all" option offered by Recycle ND includes not only a second tote for residential customers but also another dumpster for each business customer. The $1,427 additional monthly cost computes to $13.59 per business customer (a total of 105).

Auditor Becki Schumacher plans to break down the costs further to offer more equitable comparisons. Commissioners signaled after the meeting that in order to consider adding recycling services that they would likely need to raise garbage rates by up to $10 per month.

A short online survey is available to residents who want to get their interests on record anonymously. Click here to fill out the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCO0D9DJ-eVbFoqb6Hkj7Mn92U7iWs45buhmzzJKGWpCjIUw/viewform

Schumacher and the commissioners are also open to hearing direct feedback from residents who have a preference regarding recycling.

The commission has set a special meeting for Monday, March 21 at 7 p.m. At that meeting they will further evaluate the three bids. The contractor they ultimately choose will win a three-year contract with a three-year option beginning Oct. 1.

Commissioners also heard from Wade Senger of Interstate Engineering Monday. He presented plans and specifications for the street project, which were adopted. The bid notice is published in the County Extra on page B3. Bids will be opened on Monday, April 4 at 3:30 p.m., and the commission will seek to award the bid at their meeting that same evening at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, work continues at the water treatment plant. Commissioners approved a request from Senger to alter the deadline slightly; under the proposal Sentry Crane would be required to reach "substantial completion" by April 30. Senger said he feels confident that the plant will be operational by that date, but there may be some tweaking and clean-up left to do.

There was no update provided regarding when the city would begin the switchover and start the temporary treatment process. Public Works Superintendent Bruce Hirchert reported that he is documenting inventory of chemicals used in the current lime treatment process in order to optimize supply for the remaining days/weeks it will be used. Commissioners approved Sentry Crane's $25,650 bill for work completed in March. According to Senger, the city has paid just over $2 million to date on the water treatment plant upgrades.  

Modifications to the junk vehicle ordinance were read and approved a second time. The two-fold adjustments were minor, to reference removal and disposal processes outlined in the North Dakota Century Code and to remove imprisonment as a potential penalty for violators. Upon publication of the changes to the penalty clause, the revised ordinance will go into effect.