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Tarpon trash fee likely to increase

One company's contract expires and the city votes to end talks with the only firm that officially bid for the job.

By ROBIN STEIN
Published June 26, 2006

TARPON SPRINGS - Residents, savor those monthly garbage bills for $8.06 and $13.60 while you can. The waste disposal honeymoon is quickly coming to an end.

Come Sept. 30, the city's contract with Waste Management is set to expire, along with the abnormally low collection rates residents have enjoyed for the past decade.

The pickings of new haulers is slim.

It became even slimmer after the City Commission unanimously voted last week to end negotiations with the one company that officially applied for the job.

Waste Services of Florida promised new equipment, superior service, and collection rates anywhere between 35 percent and 438 percent higher than current prices, according to the city's summary of the bid.

For standard residential service - twice-weekly curbside pickups - the city said Waste Services' monthly rate would begin at $38.34, and increase no more than 3.5 percent a year.

"I'm sure Waste Services can give us gold trash cans," said Mayor Beverley Billiris. "I seriously think we're going to have residents choosing between prescription drugs and getting their trash picked up."

In anticipation of the Waste Management contract ending, city staff had sent out a request for bids, hoping to attract competitive offers from an array of prospective haulers.

But Paul Smith, the Public Services administrator, told the City Commission that by the mid-May deadline, they had received just one proposal.

Smith said Waste Management had submitted a "no-bid" notice, and indicated they were unable to offer fixed-cost terms.

Waste Services' prices would represent a hefty increase over the $8.06 and $13.60 Tarpon Springs residents currently pay, but Smith said the company would be absorbing significant startup costs for new equipment and staff.

Smith also pointed out the proposed prices were similar to the going rates in unincorporated parts of Pinellas County - $34.20 a month - and Tampa - $25.25 per month, plus a minimum $37.32 for each bulk pickup.

Yet, the commissioners remained unconvinced their rates would have to go up that much.

"I can't do this to the citizens of Tarpon Springs until we know there is no other option," said Commissioner Peter Nehr.

The commission voted to discontinue negotiations with Waste Services and approach Waste Management again.

If some of the contract requirements were relaxed, commissioners projected, the city's veteran hauler would submit a proposal.

And sure enough, after the vote, a Waste Management employee sitting in the audience stood and told the commission that the company would be game to begin negotiations.

Either way, though, it is clear that the days of single-digit trash disposal rates are numbered.

[Last modified June 25, 2006, 22:14:59]