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Council approves ordinance to establish organized collection; GFL proposed as low bidder
Summary
After extended public discussion and comments, the council voted 6-0 to approve an ordinance establishing organized collection (a single-hauler model). Staff recommended a five‑year contract with GFL Environmental at a proposed rate of $19.95 per month plus a $3.50 administrative fee, with a contract start date of Nov. 1, 2026.
The Merriam City Council approved the second reading of an ordinance establishing an organized collection service — a city-managed single-hauler system — by a 6-0 vote after staff presentations and public comment.
Assistant City Administrator Caitlin Guard told the council the item is the final step in a statutory Kansas process; staff received five bids and recommends GFL Environmental under a cooperative Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) procurement. Guard described the proposed contract as a five-year agreement that would provide weekly trash, recycling and yard-waste service, with GFL’s advertised base rate at $19.95 per month and an administrative fee of $3.50 that would be collected by the city.
Guard outlined features of the proposed service: 65‑ and 95‑gallon carts, year‑round yard‑waste pickup (up to 10 bags or bundles weekly), three bulky-item pickups per month, two amnesty weeks (one spring, one fall), and optional extra carts at $10 per month. She also said white goods (appliances with refrigerant) would incur an additional fee and that GFL would offer garage-to-curb service for eligible residents. The contract includes an annual price increase capped at 3% tied to the Consumer Price Index. Guard said staff plans to hire one full‑time position whose duties would be split (roughly half the position) to administer the program and handle resident customer service locally.
Tom Kaufman, identified as GFL’s government contracts manager, said: “I’m very confident in our service levels and our service delivery model,” and referenced other Johnson County communities using the same MARC contract.
During public comment several residents asked for more data and transparency before implementation. Julie Bailey noted differences between the survey question wording and urged council to provide written evidence of claimed savings for pavement life and emissions. William Bailey asked whether monthly billing or tax-based billing would be used and requested clarity on contingency plans if a contractor failed. Billy Kron and others urged an opt-in option rather than a mandatory single hauler.
Guard responded to questions on several fronts: HOAs may opt out if they have separate consolidated contracts; the 18‑month statutory timeline begins only after council adopts the ordinance and sets the contract start date at Nov. 1, 2026; staff intends to post and hire the administrative position by summer 2025; and the city’s usual approach for single-hauler programs is to place the charge on the property tax bill (typically twice a year) rather than monthly billing through city utility systems.
Council Member Hans moved approval and the ordinance passed on second reading by a 6-0 roll call vote (Lehi, Reiter, Silvers, Yodrich, Chabetta and Hans voting “aye”).
Why it matters: The ordinance centralizes waste collection under a single contract the city manages and replaces multiple private haulers in most residential areas; it affects billing methods, service rules, the city’s customer-service handling, and street-maintenance projections staff said would be realized if truck traffic is reduced.
Next steps: Staff will finalize contract details with GFL, post and recruit the administrative position, work on routes and cart distribution logistics, and continue public information and outreach ahead of the planned Nov. 1, 2026 start date if the contract proceeds as planned.
