Elyria Council weighs future of city sanitation after route, financial studies

Elyria City Council members spent the evening examining a months‑long review of the city’s sanitation operations and bids from private contractors, with no formal action taken. Council President Stewart opened the strategic‑planning discussion by saying the review was “just for discussion only” and that the goal was to understand whether privatization or internal reforms would better preserve service and finances.

Safety Service Director Pajanowski reviewed three components the city commissioned: a route analysis by RouteWare, an updated financial study originally done by REA Associates in 2018, and formal bids solicited from private haulers. Pajanowski said the RouteWare work produced two feasible route scenarios: one that would keep residents’ pickup days unchanged and balance loads internally, and another that would shift about 10% of customers (roughly 1,650 households) to new collection days and allow the city to eliminate one garbage route, one recycling route and half of a bulk route on certain days.

Pajanowski said the updated financial analysis…