Eight trash collection districts will start in unincorporated St. Louis County next Oct. 1 even though the County Council on Tuesday (12/4) rejected a bill that would have adjusted rules for them.
The bill would have prevented any one hauler from holding contracts for all the districts, prohibiting other trash haulers from "poaching" within districts assigned to a hauler except for subdivisions that opt out of the plan and allowing the county to award contracts for five years instead of three.
Haulers now have an opportunity to provide trash services in multiple districts thus creating a move towards a monopoly. Subdivision trustees will have to be responsible to keep trash poachers out of their respective subdivisions since the county will not assume this responsibility.
The failure of the bill may "slightly" increase the cost of the trash service, said Garry Earls, the county's chief operating officer. It also makes the districts more of a business risk for trash haulers, leading to shorter contracts and difficulties borrowing money for needed equipment, he said. It looks as if the cost of trash services has already gone up BEFORE the service has even been implemented.
The council voted 4-3 against the bill after rejecting two amendments. Councilwoman Barbara Fraser, D-University City, joined the council's three Republicans to oppose the measure. The council's remaining Democrats supported it.On a straight party-line vote, the council rejected an amendment by Councilwoman Colleen Wasinger, R-Town and Country, to postpone the start of trash districts for at least two years, to encourage recycling and to measure the response to recycling before the county implements districts.
Meanwhile, opponents of trash districts in the unincorporated area of south St. Louis County and of a trash transfer station in Oakville have formed Citizens Against Trashy Government to promote their cause.
The group will hold a rally at 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 11 at the Holiday Inn at Lindbergh Boulevard and Interstate 55. The group will provide updtates on the trash district and trash transfer station, said Tom Diehl, co-chairman of the group.
The bill would have prevented any one hauler from holding contracts for all the districts, prohibiting other trash haulers from "poaching" within districts assigned to a hauler except for subdivisions that opt out of the plan and allowing the county to award contracts for five years instead of three.
Haulers now have an opportunity to provide trash services in multiple districts thus creating a move towards a monopoly. Subdivision trustees will have to be responsible to keep trash poachers out of their respective subdivisions since the county will not assume this responsibility.
The failure of the bill may "slightly" increase the cost of the trash service, said Garry Earls, the county's chief operating officer. It also makes the districts more of a business risk for trash haulers, leading to shorter contracts and difficulties borrowing money for needed equipment, he said. It looks as if the cost of trash services has already gone up BEFORE the service has even been implemented.
The council voted 4-3 against the bill after rejecting two amendments. Councilwoman Barbara Fraser, D-University City, joined the council's three Republicans to oppose the measure. The council's remaining Democrats supported it.On a straight party-line vote, the council rejected an amendment by Councilwoman Colleen Wasinger, R-Town and Country, to postpone the start of trash districts for at least two years, to encourage recycling and to measure the response to recycling before the county implements districts.
Meanwhile, opponents of trash districts in the unincorporated area of south St. Louis County and of a trash transfer station in Oakville have formed Citizens Against Trashy Government to promote their cause.
The group will hold a rally at 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 11 at the Holiday Inn at Lindbergh Boulevard and Interstate 55. The group will provide updtates on the trash district and trash transfer station, said Tom Diehl, co-chairman of the group.
Know Your Customers
It is my understanding that the budget cuts that took place, reducing the County District expense from $400,000 to $178,000 will primarly come out of enforcement of this district plan.
ReplyDeleteThe County insists on handing us citizens something we clearly don't want, and then wash their hands of it. How crazy is that????
Keep contacting County Elected Officials and complian loud and long about this smoke and mirrors lunacy.
This is a press release from the County...........
County officials reduced to about $178,000 the budget to administer controversial trash collection districts in the unincorporated areas from $400,000. Councilman Greg Quinn, R-Ballwin, opposes such districts, and Councilwoman Colleen Wasinger, R-Town and Country wants to delay their start for at least two years. Both suggested the county could save the $178,000 by not going ahead with the districts.
More information is available at: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/6A17EB3A6F402BEB862573A70016A272?OpenDocument
or at: http://tinyurl.com/2lubab