Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solid Waste Waste Connections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bruceville-Eddy reviews Waste Connections service history; city administrator recommends issuing RFP
Summary
City staff reviewed a multi-year history of service issues with franchise hauler Waste Connections; the administrator recommended issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to test market options while inviting the current vendor to rebid.
City Administrator Kent Minton and representatives from Waste Connections reviewed the company's multi-year relationship with Bruceville-Eddy and current service levels during an extended presentation to the council.
Minton outlined a timeline beginning with the city's original franchise in 2006 and said concerns in 2022 prompted the city to issue a notice of noncompliance and schedule a formal hearing after the vendor did not fully correct performance issues. Minton said Waste Connections has since addressed many concerns, including bulky-item collection, miscollections and communication, but that some operational gaps remain.
Waste Connections regional representative Jimmy Esparza said the company has taken targeted steps to improve service and staffing. “We have made a concerted effort to make sure that we retain good people, to ensure the safety of our employees and the public, but also have that continuity of good service,” Esparza said, noting a newer truck and local continuity of drivers on routes.
Council members and staff discussed operational limits the company faces, including occasional “packouts” when trucks fill and DOT rules that limit drivers to 12 hours. Esparza said the typical Tuesday route uses one truck and averages about 8 to 11 tons per day; he said the company attempts to return the next day after mechanical failures or packouts.
Minton recommended that the city issue a full request for proposals for solid-waste collection when the current franchise cycle next opens, allowing Waste Connections and other vendors to submit bids. The recommendation would let the city compare price and service rather than assume continued renewal.
Council asked for more data on typical route tonnages and truck-days; Esparza offered to provide “actuals” on tonnage and truck usage if the council wanted them. No formal action or contract change was taken at the meeting; the council heard the presentation and accepted the recommendation for pursuing an RFP process at a later decision point.
