Norwich Township awards solid-waste contract to Local Waste after bid resubmission

Norwich Township trustees voted Dec. 6 to award a five-year exclusive solid-waste collection contract to Local Waste Services, ending a months‑long procurement that included a rescinded October invitation to bid and a brief consideration of SWACO consortium participation. Township Administrator Wayne Warner recommended awarding the contract to Local Waste as the “lowest and best” bid after staff and legal review.

The award follows a fall process in which the board initially authorized public advertising for bids (advertisements ran in October), then rescinded that invitation on Oct. 18 after staff reported that opting into the countywide SWACO consortium could reduce costs for residents. That decision was later revisited and the board reopened the procurement in November.

At the Dec. 6 meeting trustees adopted a resolution accepting Local Waste’s proposal as the lowest and best bid and authorized the administrator to execute the contract, which begins Jan. 1, 2011, with two optional one‑year extensions. The board’s action included direction to deliver notice of award and to return bid guarantees to unsuccessful bidders.

The board’s December packet also included routine fiscal actions tied to year‑end planning. Trustees simultaneously approved the 2011 Permanent Appropriations totaling $15,177,750. Fiscal Officer Jamie Miles provided the appropriation detail during the same meeting.

The board’s decisions close out a year of repeated public discussion about solid‑waste options, the relative merits of county consortium membership, and the timing of procurement. Wayne Warner told the board that each proposal was reviewed with legal counsel to ensure compliance with the specifications and that the Local Waste average rate offered the most favorable combination of service and cost for the unincorporated areas.