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Crystal River to take bids on residential trash pickup
By ALEX LEARY, Times Staff Writer
CRYSTAL RIVER -- Not to be outdone by their counterparts in county government, the City Council has opened its own garbage debate by taking a step toward soliciting bids from independent trash haulers interested in taking over residential service. Initially, at least, officials seem to be open to the idea of privatizing sanitation. The council voted unanimously Monday night to direct staff to develop a request for proposals that could be used for bidding. History has shown the issue summons deep emotion from people worried about city employees and diminished quality of service. The city has dabbled with privatization for years, but so far has only freed itself of commercial pickup. In fall 2000, the council moved in favor of full privatization. But the plan was scaled back to only commercial after a new council took office in January 2001. Yet the promise of privatization has not faded in the minds of some officials, and now the debate has begun anew. "It's gotten to the point where private industry can do it better than we can," council member Kitty Ebert said. "A private company, that's all they do is pick up garbage. Our Public Works department does many things." Crystal River residents currently pay $16.90 per month for twice a week service. Inverness went with private haulers several years ago. The service is part of residents' property taxes and works out to less than $8 per month, said City Manager Frank DiGiovanni. Monday's discussion resembled a mini version of the debate over mandatory garbage collection in the county. Several Crystal River residents predicted low prices promised by contractors would evaporate with time and the city would lose the ability to control costs. The savings, said resident Tony Marion, are "very transitory, very, very short-lived." He cautioned the city about selling its trash equipment because if privatization did not work out, the city would face significant costs to buy new trucks. Ebert, however, pointed to success in privatizing the city's water and wastewater operations and also noted Inverness' experience with sanitation. If the city turned sanitation over to a private company, three sanitation positions would be lost. The council said Monday that a clause in the contract would ensure city employees are given jobs with the company and their seniority would be recognized. The contract could also include street sweeping, recycling, Monday through Saturday service and free collection for city-owned buildings. City Manager Susan Boyer said it will take a month or more to develop the request for proposals. Some City Council members also want the city to prepare a bid. In other City Council news: -- The council held an hourlong workshop on the proposed Citrus County extension of the Suncoast Parkway and a possible exit ramp near town. Several council members expressed opposition to an exit at County Road 495, just north of the city limit. Robert Holmes said the exit could lead to rapid growth. That development will occur without the parkway, he said, but at a more manageable rate. John Kendall strongly favored a CR 495 exit, saying the city needs to expand its tax base and that the development would be prime for annexation. "The parkway is coming, no question about it. If we don't prepare for it now, we're going to be 20 years late," Kendall said. -- Alex Leary can be reached at 564-3623 or leary@sptimes.com .
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