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Merriam council approves resolution to begin single-hauler organized waste collection process
Summary
The Merriam City Council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution of intent to pursue an organized single-hauler waste collection plan; staff will return with a proposed contract after a resident work group develops bid documents and the city goes to procurement in early 2025.
The Merriam City Council on Oct. 14 adopted a resolution of intent to organize residential waste collection, opening the way for a single-hauler franchise process that staff and a resident work group will develop over the next months.
Ms. Guard, who presented the item, told the council the city held the required public hearing in August and that "there is a 30 day waiting period that we are required to do by statute" before the council could consider the resolution. She said a resident work group representing each ward will help draft an organized collection plan and bid documents for council consideration on Dec. 9, 2024.
"We won't know the price. We won't know the contractor until after we go out to bid," Ms. Guard said, stressing that the resolution begins the statutory process rather than locking the city into a specific contractor or rate. Council members pressed staff on contract language for opt-out or termination clauses and asked whether the ordinance establishing a single hauler would name the specific vendor; Ms. Guard said that procurement documents will include termination/opt-out terms and the council would later consider the resulting contract and ordinance.
Council members also asked about outreach and representation on the resident committee. Ms. Guard confirmed the city has a dedicated webpage (merriam.org/trashservice) and that committee members represent each ward. Mr. Stovers thanked staff for including public survey results in the meeting packet and encouraged continued outreach to residents.
Council member Hanns moved to adopt the resolution of intent; Council member Yandridge seconded. The clerk recorded the vote as 7–0 in favor.
Next steps in the timeline provided by staff are: the resident work group will draft an organized collection plan and bid documents this fall, council will consider that plan at the Dec. 9 meeting, the city will go to bid in the first quarter of 2025, and the council will later consider and (if approved) negotiate the contract that would implement single-hauler service. Staff emphasized price, contract length and the selected contractor will not be known until after the bidding process.
