Dover council hears three haulers on organized garbage collection, tables decision to Feb. 6

The Dover City Council on Jan. 2 heard presentations from three waste‑hauling companies and agreed to delay selecting a vendor until its Feb. 6 meeting.

Representatives from LRS, Waste Management and Harter’s each outlined their proposals for organized garbage collection. David Meyer of LRS said "all charges are included" in its bid and noted customers could use call centers in Rochester, Stewartville and Winona or walk in at any of those locations. Jay Nielsen of Waste Management said the company would resubmit detailed pricing that includes all fees for three years and noted call center locations in Minneapolis, Wisconsin and Rochester. Laccen Comstock of Harter’s highlighted that the company is the only hauler offering a split‑body truck and cited Stewartville call centers with a La Crosse backup.

All three vendors warned that when cans are stacked above a closed lid, occasional extra pickup would not necessarily incur a charge but repeated overfilling could lead to photo documentation and additional charges; vendors estimated an oversize bag fee at about $2 per bag and said they typically do not charge for predictable seasonal increases such as the holidays.

After questions and brief discussion, Member Eric Tyler moved and Member Jodi Nicklay seconded a motion to "table" the decision until the Feb. 6 council meeting; the motion carried.

The council did not take a final procurement vote and asked for more detailed pricing and fee breakdowns from at least Waste Management before the next meeting.