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Residents and council members spar over single-hauler trash contract ahead of May ballot
Summary
Public commenters urged protection of residents’ right to choose trash haulers while supporters said a single hauler secured uniform pricing; council placed the single-hauler issue on the May ballot after awarding a contract, sparking conflicting public testimony.
Portage residents and council members clashed over the city’s decision to move to a single trash and yard-waste hauler and to place the question on the May ballot.
At the podium, Mark Anthony Martin of Dandale Street said he supports the right to choose his hauler, praised Bestway’s 20 years of service and criticized the council for taking choice away and for the cost of holding a single-issue election. “Bestway has served me well for over 20 years,” Martin said. “We have submitted enough signatures to indicate that we are not happy that you removed our right to choose.”
Doug Voden of Wooding Knoll Drive countered that a single hauler can secure a fair, uniform price for the city. Voden said the RFP process allowed all vendors to bid and that price differences among bidders explained the outcome: “It’s not about choice. It’s about securing a fair price and a uniform price,” he said, noting Waste Management’s bid was materially lower than Bestway’s.
Council member Ledbetter, speaking later during council-member remarks, defended the council’s action as consistent with trends in other communities and urged voters to read ballot language carefully. Ledbetter said many communities use single-hauler contracts to ensure uniform rates and cited concerns with inconsistent posted pricing among haulers.
The council has already placed the issue on the May ballot. Supporters at the meeting said the competitive bidding process produced a lower price for the city; opponents said the change removes resident choice and warned of added election costs.
Next steps: the matter will be decided by Portage voters in May; the council and community members urged residents to study the ballot language before casting votes.
