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Pierson to seek new solid-waste bids after multiple missed pickups; council weighs moving collection to tax roll
Summary
After repeated missed collections by current contractor GFL, Pierson staff will prepare a request for proposals for solid-waste service ahead of the March 2026 contract expiration; councilors discussed whether to fund residential collection through a non-ad valorem tax assessment (which has timing and implementation steps) or continue the current customer-setup model.
Deputy clerk Ryan Smith told the council that in recent weeks GFL missed many residential pickups; staff traced the problem to the contract model that requires each household to set up and pay a separate account with the contractor and to display a company sticker. Ryan said some customers had paid but never received updated stickers and drivers continued to pass cans without visible stickers.
"They assured us they had ordered stickers...they were gonna send a truck back out on Friday, pick up the remaining trash. Well, that didn't happen," Ryan said, describing follow-up with GFL municipal staff and the contractor's local manager.
Town Attorney Scott Simpson told the council that changing to a property-tax assessment to guarantee townwide residential service is possible but time-sensitive: an ordinance authorizing a non-ad valorem assessment generally must be adopted before the end of the calendar year to reach the property-appraiser process for next-tax-year collection. Simpson said firms can assist with setup and that initial setup costs can be folded into the assessment.
Councilors and residents debated tradeoffs. Vice Mayor Robert Greenland urged residents to indicate their preference; resident Philip Hughes argued that contractors are more likely to bid if payment is guaranteed via taxes: "If I'm a company wanting to pick up trash, I'm gonna go with the guy with the taxes where it comes off the taxes. I know I'm gonna get paid," Hughes said. Other residents urged the council to ensure commercial accounts and dumpsters are handled so businesses are not forced into duplicate fees.
Staff said they would prepare an RFP for release aimed at March 2026 and examine whether to change the customer-payment model or pursue an assessment; no ordinance or formal funding change was adopted at the meeting.
