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Lamar council approves three‑year solid‑waste contract with Vans Sanitation
Summary
Council approved a three‑year renewal with Vans Sanitation to begin Jan. 1, 2026, with an $8.25/month per unit base rate and a 3% annual increase; contract includes end‑of‑year reviews and provisions for additional paid pickups.
The Lamar City Council voted Oct. 7 to approve a three‑year solid‑waste collection contract with Vans Sanitation LLC, effective Jan. 1, 2026. City staff said the existing contract expires Dec. 31, 2025.
City staff and the public utilities committee discussed the renewal and recommended negotiating with Vans rather than issuing new requests for proposals. The contract terms reported to council include a base fee of $8.25 per month per unit (staff noted the current base is approximately $7.18), a 3% annual rate increase and an annual end‑of‑year review to address service issues. Staff also said Vans will provide off‑cycle pickups for an additional fee.
Council members asked about operational issues raised during recent service — including a leaking truck that staff said was removed from service — and whether the shorter, three‑year term would encourage the contractor to invest in equipment. A Vans Sanitation representative reported the truck in question had been taken off routes; councilmembers said they will monitor service.
A motion to approve the three‑year contract passed on a roll‑call vote. Councilmembers recorded voting yes in the excerpt include Sturgeon, Friends, Pick, Wick, Goodchild and Burns. The motion carried.
The contract replaces a previous five‑year term and is intended by staff to balance the contractor’s incentive to invest and the city’s flexibility to address service issues during the term.
