Mchenry council directs staff to seek new refuse bids, lists leaf pickup and sticker program as add‑alternates

Mchenry’s City Council directed staff on July 20 to issue a request for proposals for municipal refuse services and to structure yard‑leaf pickup and the sticker bag program as optional add‑alternates, after residents and aldermen raised concerns about costs and contractor capacity.

City staff told the council the current contract with Flood Brothers has roughly one year remaining and includes a city option to extend for five years. Staff outlined two paths: negotiate a five‑year extension under the existing scope, or open competition and allow bidders to price the base refuse program with leaf pickup and the sticker option offered as add‑ons. "We do have approximately 1 year left on the existing contract with Flood Brothers that expires 07/31/2027," staff member Russ told the council.

The council heard public comment from Carl Hertig, who said he has lived in Mchenry for 40 years and warned that switching from the sticker system to a mandatory tote would increase costs for smaller households. "It's a $117 more a year out of my pocket," Hertig said, noting current stickers cost him about $3.50 every three weeks and that a tote option could run roughly $15 a month.

Aldermen debated tradeoffs between affordability and competition. Alderman Miller argued that many haulers are moving away from manual bag pickup because mechanical‑arm trucks cannot handle bags reliably and firms cite liability concerns, a reality that he said has already discouraged bids: "The sticker thing has to die," Miller said, arguing that removing the sticker requirement and curbside leaf vacuuming would attract more bidders and lower prices. Other aldermen urged caution, noting seniors and single‑person households could be disproportionately affected by mandatory monthly tote charges and urging that bids include alternatives to protect affordability.

Council members also discussed whether the city should run a municipal leaf pickup program if private haulers will not provide it. One alderman cited an early‑2000s origin for the leaf program as an alternative to backyard burning and estimated a city‑run program could cost around $200,000 a year, but said more precise cost data is needed.

After discussion the council reached a majority consensus to issue an RFP crafted so leaf pickup and the sticker program are add‑alternate items; staff will solicit bids for a base refuse and recycling service and accept priced options for the additional services, then return results to the council for consideration. The special meeting concluded after a short procedural motion to adjourn.

What happens next: Staff will draft the RFP under the council’s direction and bring bid results and pricing options back to council for a future decision. The city did not approve any contract amendment or extension at this meeting.