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Inkster council raised concerns about rubbish contractor performance as contract nears renewal
Summary
Council heard that the city's rubbish contractor (referred to as Priority/Republic) has had recurring service problems; the current contract expires at month’s end and staff said they may pursue a short extension or re-bid amid limited market options.
City staff briefed council on the rubbish fund and the city's contract with its solid-waste contractor, repeatedly described in the session as performing poorly. The treasurer said the current contractor agreement is up at the end of the month and the administration has discussed options with the mayor and other staff.
Councilors recounted repeated service lapses — missed pickups and inconsistent route coverage — and noted similar problems reported in other communities. One council member asked about alternative vendors; staff said the market is concentrated and that some local jurisdictions have kept the incumbent on short extensions to allow time for evaluation. “They’re performing horribly,” a councilor said of the contractor during the meeting.
Staff told council the rubbish fund is in healthy shape and that the city could absorb short-term contract cost increases if needed; the budget keeps the rubbish fee (about $81–$83) the same for FY27. The administration said it would schedule an intensive meeting with the mayor and procurement staff to determine whether to extend the current contract for a year, re-bid, or seek other providers that can serve routes and landfill arrangements.
Next steps: staff will meet with the mayor and procurement leads to define a procurement approach and return to council with a recommendation before the contract expiration.
