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24/7 Travel Store seeks private compactor; Goodland staff weigh franchise limits and ordinance change
Summary
The owner of the 24/7 Travel Store asked the commission for permission to use an on-site trash compactor to reduce cost and blowing litter. Staff said the city's franchise contract limits private refuse contractors, noted precedents, and will discuss options with the contractor and the business before returning to the commission.
Mark Augustine, owner of the 24/7 Travel Store in Goodland, asked the commission to consider permitting an on-site trash compactor at his location, saying the business pays substantially more for frequent pickups and that the compactor would reduce litter.
"He is looking for an alternative method to remove trash at the Goodland location, due to cost and the mess left behind from the current procedures," staff summarized, and Augustine said the site has six dumpsters picked up three times a week.
City staff explained the municipality’s franchise contract generally prohibits businesses from subscribing to private refuse contractors, but noted other communities have used exceptions — Walmart was offered as a local precedent — and that some cities separate residential and commercial franchise terms. Commissioners asked staff to collect information from the current contractor about roll-off or compactor services and to return with legal and contract options, including whether an ordinance amendment or contract amendment would be required.
No formal action was taken; the commission asked staff to gather provider and customer information and consider options that could allow a compactor only for very large commercial generators if that approach can be structured fairly.
