Council reopens citywide trash contract debate; asks staff for engagement plan and to consider 2‑year notice

The Lee's Summit City Council on March 3 directed staff to return with a public engagement plan and laid groundwork for restarting the multi-year process to consider moving residential solid-waste collection from a subscription model (residents choose haulers) to a contract model (city-contracted hauler(s)).

Michael Park, director of public works, reviewed the city’s history with contract hauling and a multi-year effort that produced an RFP cycle a decade ago. Park said the drivers have shifted: the city’s landfill is closed, recycling participation remains low and residents increasingly complain about litter and road damage from many haulers. He noted that roughly two-thirds of comparable municipalities use some form of contract service.

Park told the council that the previous process produced a detailed set of recommendations — zones, container options and billing approaches — but that legal challenges and an injunction halted implementation in the prior cycle. He presented a list of potential benefits (possible household cost…