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Council approves short-term landfill agreement with Waste Management, plans RFP for local transfer station
Summary
Council approved a short-term service agreement with Waste Management to begin July 1 while staff prepares an RFP for a long-term local transfer station. The contract includes a first‑year rate of $38/ton (city was paying $51/ton to the prior provider) and aims to provide more drop-off options for residents; council approved the measure 8–0.
The Fremont City Council on June 9 approved a short-term landfill service agreement with Waste Management of Nebraska to begin July 1, replacing the long-standing arrangement with the prior operator while the city readies an RFP for a permanent local transfer station.
Public Works Director Dan Gillis said the city’s contract with Waste Connections expires June 30 and that negotiations with Waste Management produced a lower interim disposal rate. "Right now, we pay $51 a ton to Waste Connections. Waste Management is going to charge $38 a ton for their first year," Gillis said, explaining the bridge contract is intended to buy time for a formal procurement and possible local transfer-station alternatives.
Gillis described a two-track strategy for the upcoming RFP: one track would let bidders propose to build and operate a privately owned local transfer station; another would allow the city to build and own the facility and solicit operators to run it. He said licensed haulers would be required to use the city's designated disposal facility under the city’s terms, while household customers would have additional options (for example, pheasant-point landfill has different acceptance rules such as not taking tires).
Council members asked whether the interim agreement would cause tipping fee increases and how households should dispose of construction/demolition debris; Gillis said the interim deal actually reduces the per-ton rate for the first year and that some operational differences (e.g., types of materials accepted) will affect where residents choose to dispose of items. An RFP is expected to be issued in the next one to two months, staff said.
Mitch Sawyer, a public commenter, asked how long the interim contract will run and whether Waste Connections would still be allowed to use Pheasant Point; staff said the agreement is a bridge to allow time for the RFP and that licensed haulers will be required to use the city's designated disposal facility while household customers will have more options.
The council approved the agreement 8–0 and directed staff to proceed with procurement planning and the RFP process.
