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Lee's Summit council authorizes 2-year notice to explore contracted residential trash service
Summary
Council voted unanimously to begin a statutory two-year notice period that starts a public engagement process, research and an eventual RFP for citywide residential trash hauling; staff outlined a timeline that could allow a program start as early as May 2027.
The Lee's Summit City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to direct staff to issue a statutory two-year notice to begin studying and potentially contracting residential solid-waste hauling citywide.
The move starts a statutory clock and a staff-led engagement plan, Mayor M. Baird said. Michael Park, director of public works, told council the plan calls for outreach to peer cities, homeowners' associations, haulers and the public, formation of a task force and work sessions with the council's public works committee before the city issues an RFP.
“We would like to engage our peer communities that are currently contracting for residential trash service, get a better understanding of best management practices,” Michael Park, director of public works, said during the presentation. Park said the goal is to bring a recommendation from the public works committee to council by October and, if directed, go to RFP by late in the year so a contract award could be considered after the New Year.
Council members pressed staff on scope and timing. Council Member Shields, who made the motion to issue the notice, said staff would lead the stakeholder meetings and coordinate town-hall style sessions in each district; Council Member Rader urged including representatives of different business types even though the planned scope is residential only.
Park told council that issuing the notice does not obligate the city to adopt a program; it simply starts the statutory 24-month clock required under state procurement rules for existing service contracts. Staff said the earliest feasible program start date, if the city proceeds, would be May 2027 to allow time for procurement, public education and startup.
The formal motion — “I move to issue the 2 year notice to statutory recovery to begin the solid waste considerations” — was made by Council Member Shields and seconded by Council Member Carlisle. The roll call vote was unanimous.
City staff will return with engagement summaries, interim reports to council in July and September, and a public-works-committee recommendation before any final council decision on a contract or program.
For now, council's action is limited to authorizing the public engagement and procurement planning steps and placing the two-year notice on the schedule to begin the process.
