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Residents split on single-hauler plan as council begins organized-collection process
Summary
Public comment ranged from support for a city or contracted single-hauler system as a cost-saving measure to requests that homeowners associations retain opt-out rights for existing services, with residents citing specific monthly costs and service amenities.
Public comment at the May 18 council meeting reflected divergent resident views about proposed changes to trash and recycling services.
Parker Heinze, who gave his address as 9016 Lowell Avenue, said he supports a shift to city-operated or city-contracted trash service and cited his household cost for KC Disposal at $43 per month ($516 per year). "I am deeply in support of the switch to city operated or city contracted trash service," Heinze said, adding that consolidated contracting could reduce costs and create 29–41 local jobs according to the study he referenced.
By contrast, Craig Wilson, president of the Apple Valley Estates Homeowners Association, described a multi-year private contract his HOA just renewed and asked that associations be allowed to opt out if the city offers a new service. "Price is important, but the most important thing to our residents is great and consistent service," Wilson said, describing preferred 95-gallon containers, year-round yard waste pickup and monthly large-item service.
Jeff Lee and other residents urged approaches that preserve competition and multiple bidders; Lee favored a multi-zone contracting scheme to avoid future monopolies at contract rollover. City staff and council members said the action taken tonight was to begin the statutory process and that detailed contract terms, opt-out provisions, and cost comparisons would be worked out in subsequent steps.
