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Garbage company to ask for rate hike

Claims of poor service will make it difficult for East Bay Sanitation to make its case to the city.

By TAMARA EL-KHOURY
Published August 15, 2006

OLDSMAR - The company that picks up Oldsmar's solid waste will come before the City Council tonight to ask for more money.

East Bay Sanitation, owned by Republic Services Inc., proposes rate increases that would amount to $1.26 per month for residential garbage and recycling customers.

But the company will have a hard time pleading its case to the City Council, officials say.

"Their timing is poor," council member Jim Ronecker said Monday. "I'm getting more complaints about their service than I did before."

And he's not alone.

"The last two weeks they picked up my garbage, I was thrilled," Vice Mayor Janice Miller said. "I mean, two weeks in a row, gosh!"

And Mayor Jerry Beverland said, "I'm going to make them feel just as bad as I can."

The company is asking for price increases that would cost the city $241,300 for fiscal year 2006-07 and $265,892 the next year.

The city paid East Bay $1.4-million for fiscal year 2004-05 for services including residential curbside can and recycling services and commercial can and container services. East Bay's five-year contract with the city extends through September 2008.

"We are experiencing sharply higher costs for fuel as well as oils, lubricants and tires," said company spokesman Will Flower.

Residents and council members have complained about missed pick-ups and inconsistent and sloppy service.

In exchange for allowing East Bay to come before the council and ask for more money, the city staff proposed a penalty clause be added to the contract, said John Mulvihill, director of public works.

Besides considering giving East Bay a rate increase, the council will consider an amendment to the contract which would financially penalize the company if it failed to meet performance requirements.

The company is committed to doing a good job for its customers, Flower said, but rising costs are affecting its ability to provide those services.

"Without this price increase we would really be in a situation where we'd be losing too much money," he said.

PROPOSED RATE INCREASES:

East Bay Sanitation proposes to increase rates to customers in Oldsmar. As proposed, the new rates would be retroactive to July 1. The City Council will consider the proposal at 7 tonight at council chambers, 100 State St. W.

- Residential curbside solid waste pickup

- Unlimited cans/Twice weekly/4,050 customers

Current monthly rate: $7.45

Proposed monthly rate: $8.50

- Residential once-weekly curbside recycling

Current monthly rate: $1.54

Proposed monthly rate: $1.75

[Last modified August 14, 2006, 22:53:26]