Groves leaders weigh exclusive franchise for commercial, industrial sanitation services

Groves city officials spent a work session on Oct. 6 examining whether to move the city’s commercial and industrial sanitation collection from an open market to a single exclusive franchise.

City staff told council the city still provides residential service but that commercial dumpsters and large roll‑off containers are handled by private companies. Staff said Republic Services collects the bulk of the city’s commercial accounts billed through the city, and an internal audit found roughly 83% of those accounts currently billed under city processes. Staff also said the municipal code requires truck permits ($25 annually) and a 9% gross‑receipts tax on providers, and…