City Council Approves New Trash Contract

St. Charles City Council approved a five-year contract with Allied Waste to provide trash services to city residents.

Residents who rent a trash can from Allied will see their trash fees drop from $58.41 each quarter to $49.11 per quarter in January 2012, as Allied will no longer charge to provide a trash can.

Residents who don't rent a cart would get cart provided by Allied for free, and would pay $49.11 per quarter starting in January. Residents would get to choose between a 65- or a 90-gallon bin. By 2016, Allied Waste would have to label each trashcan with residents' addresses.

The current rate per quarter is $48.39 with an additional $10.02 cart fee.

• The trash fee would increase to $49.11 per quarter in January 2012 with no cart fee.
• The fee would increase to $50.10 per quarter in January 2013 and remain flat through January 2016.
• Residents will have two free yard waste pick up days, one in the fall and one in the spring, starting in 2011.
• Allied will provide an automated telephone system to advise customers of changes or disruptions to service caused by weather or holidays.
• Allied will contribute $12,000 for a city calendar expected to cost about $24,000, which would explain the dates for trash service and city events.
• Allied would increase the number of "hardship" units that the city can give out to customers who can't afford the cost of trash service. 

Voting in favor of the contract were council members Mary Ann Ohms, Ward 1, Tom Besselman, Ward 2, Laurie Feldman, Ward 3,  Jerry Reese, Ward 6, Dave Beckering, Ward 7, Council President Mike Klinghammer, Ward 8, Ron Stivison Ward 9, Bridget Ohmes, Ward 10.

Council members Bob Kneemiller, Ward 4, and Michael Weller, Ward 5, voted against the contract. 

In other business, council members approved a bill that increases the preference that is given to companies located in St. Charles who bid to work on city projects or services. The percent of preference was changed from 2 percent to 3 percent, with a maximum preference of up to $5,000.

Beckering said this will prevent the city from having to select a company from St. Louis that underbids a St. Charles company by a few hundred dollars.

"We encourage our residents to shop locally," Klinghammer said. "This will be another tool to shop locally."

Council members also approved an amendment to a contract with Gary Elmestad to provide consultant services for project and funding initiatives.

Elmestad was hired in 2010 to help identify grants and state or public funding sources for public improvements. Amendment 3 to the contract will provide an additional $30,000 for his services, bringing the total amount spent to $110,000.

Elmestad has helped the city get matching grants from Army Corps of Engineers and East West Gateway, according to a memo from the administration.