After hearing complaints from residents that St. Charles Parish might be passing up the best deal on garbage collection, Parish Council members said Tuesday say they will consider requesting proposals for the service. "We will be going out for proposals," Councilman Shelley Tastet told a meeting of Norco, Montz and New Sarpy civic leaders Tuesday who hosted a...
Darin "Gus" Bordelon, an IESI manager, listens as Sidney Torres IV, of SDT Waste and Debris Services talks during the Norco Civic Association's special meeting to discuss St. Charles Parish's garbage collection contract Tuesday, September, 14, 2010 in Norco.After hearing complaints from residents that St. Charles Parish might be passing up the best deal on garbage collection, Parish Council members said Tuesday say they will consider requesting proposals for the service.
"We will be going out for proposals," Councilman Shelley Tastet told a meeting of Norco, Montz and New Sarpy civic leaders Tuesday who hosted a meeting in Norco to voice their concerns about the matter.
The move would be a change of course from earlier plans to push for a five-year renewal for the contract with IESI, the parish's current contractor.
The five-year contract expires Feb. 28, but includes an option for a five-year renewal that the council could approve if both parties agree.
On Tuesday, after an escalating round of informal proposals from IESI and SDT Waste and Demolition Services, council members said they now are considering a formal request for proposals. Council Chairman Billy Raymond Sr., who did not attend the meeting, sent out a proposed resolution to do that on Tuesday. Council members said they got the e-mail wit that information while they were discussing the matter with residents.
Tuesday's meeting, held at the Norco Civic Association's meeting hall, involved a three-cornered discussion between council members, the two waste-hauling companies and residents at the meeting.
"The decision we have to make first is whether to renew the contract," Councilwoman Wendy Benedetto said.
"If you just renew the contract, how do we know you're getting the best deal?" asked Sal DiGirolamo, president of the Norco Civic Association.
New Sarpy resident Harold Mire said any cost savings are important to many residents.
"$1,000 might not mean too much to you, but you're working. You're not on a fixed income," he said, referring to the potential cost savings for a homeowner over the five-year life of the contract.
Roy Trepagnier, 83, of Norco, voices his concerns during the Norco Civic Association's special meeting to discuss St. Charles Parish's garbage collection contract Tuesday, September, 14, 2010 in Norco.At the current rate of $11.99 per month, the parish's 17,600 households pay about $2.6 million per year, plus garbage disposal fees.
Councilmembers Carolyn Schexnaydre, Terry Authement and Paul Hogan have been pushing for the council to resist IESI's overtures for a non-competitive renewal.
But until recently, some council members, including Benedetto, Larry Cochran, Raymond, and Tastet have resisted the idea, saying the parish is getting good service from IESI, with relatively few complaints, compared to its predecessor, Waste Management.
IESI took over the pickup from Waste Management in 2006. The company didn't seek a renewal of the contract, but earlier this year, sent a letter parish officials saying it would be interested in putting in a proposal for the project.
IESI manager Gus Bordelon said the company had to replace a large number of 15-year-old garbage cans which had become brittle over the course of the contract.
"We welcome the process, but it's not just about price," he said. "Waste Management had a terrible reputation when they left here (in 2006). We're asking the residents to judge us on our proven record of honesty."
SDT owner Sidney Torres IV said his company simply a wants chance at the parish's business. The company has informally proposed a $10.29 per household pick-up fee, less than the $10.96 starting fee for IESI.
"Give me a chance to put my best proposal on the table," Torres said.
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Matt Scallan can be reached at 985.652.0953 or mscallan@timespicayune.com