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Excelsior Springs council approves Republic Services extension after company agrees to revert to five-day routes
Summary
Council voted to extend the city’s contract with Republic Services after the company agreed to return to five-day collection routes, audit missed pickups and pursue a cart replacement program; the extension includes an addendum to prevent future single-day 'blast' routes and preserves termination language if service does not improve.
The Excelsior Springs City Council on Dec. 16 approved a resolution to provide written notice to Republic Services of Kansas City seeking a one-term extension of the city’s trash-collection contract after months of public complaints tied to a single-day “blast” pickup schedule.
Chad Birdsong, the city’s director of public works, told the council Republic and city staff have met repeatedly since service problems began with the one-day route in August 2023. Birdsong said Republic agreed to return the city to a five-day collection schedule, with implementation planned for the week of Jan. 6, 2025, and to investigate the truck and cart interactions that caused damage to containers.
“They believe about 25% of the carts need to be replaced, and they are looking at what that would look like,” Birdsong said, summarizing the company’s inventory review and a potential cart-replacement program.
Birdsong also described operational changes Republic has proposed: providing a documented “not out” list that records addresses missed each day (important for customer service follow-up and dispute resolution) and improvements to municipal customer identification at Republic call centers.
Council members pressed staff on options if service does not improve. Birdsong noted the existing contract includes a termination clause and recommended an addendum be drafted that would remove language allowing the contractor to reinstate a one-day blast route during the extension. “That is acceptable,” Birdsong said, reporting Republic’s general manager had agreed to language that would bar future one-day service models for the term of the extension.
Several councilmembers said the root of many complaints was the change to a single-day blast route and expressed hope that reinstating local drivers familiar with neighborhood routes would reduce missed pickups. Council members also discussed timing for a potential future RFP, noting legal notice and termination timelines would affect any competitive procurement.
The council approved the resolution to extend the contract (Resolution 1544) by roll-call vote. The extension includes the addendum discussed and retains the city’s termination rights should Republic fail to meet performance expectations during the extended term.
The city will monitor implementation of the five-day route and the proposed cart program, and staff indicated they would return to council if termination or an RFP process appears necessary.
