Officials consider accepting bids

Setting trash hauling rates is a complex issue that Lordstown must address.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- The village's board of public affairs, which oversees the community's water system, is looking to get into the garbage business.
Chester Phillips, board chairman, says the prospect of having trash-hauling companies bid on picking up residential trash may save residents money and provide increased revenue for the water department the board now operates.
The board is looking for three to five residents to serve on a committee to determine what kinds of services the residents want.
Most residents currently contract individually with Allied Waste Management Inc. to pick up their garbage on Mondays and Thursdays.
Cindy Slusarczyk, board clerk, says Lordstown residents are paying about 52 per quarter for hauling, while Niles residents, who also are serviced by Allied Waste, pay 21 quarterly.
Slusarczyk explained the large difference is because Niles solicits competitive bids for garbage collection.
Slusarczyk said the village has a large percentage of senior citizens who don't generate much trash. They would be able to buy a large bag for 1 at the village hall, fill it with garbage each week and the hauler would collect it -- knowing the customer has already paid for the bag, thus the service.
Phillips said that although the board has only dealt with water, it is a utility board and "we jumped on it [the garbage idea] because nobody else in the village wanted to take it on."
Phillips recalled years ago when residents weren't charged individually for trash pickup, because the cost was paid by the village. Phillips said the cost became prohibitive and the village stopped paying it, so residents contracted individually.
If the committee and board determine that competitive bidding won't save residents any money, the idea will be dropped, Phillips said.
If money can be saved, Phillips explained, a portion of it will go to the public affairs board and be used for capital improvements to the water system.
"We need all the money we can get," Phillips said.
Not a simple issue
Brent Bowker, general manager of Allied Waste in the Youngstown district, said comparing rates is a complex issue.
He explained that the 21 quarterly cost in Niles will be going up "substantially" as Allied Waste is about to renegotiate a new contract with Niles.
One reason is the Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District will be increasing around March the "generation fee" Trumbull County haulers are charged, from 3.50 per ton to 5.50.
Other considerations are: Do residents want full disposal service or limited service; and will residents use their own containers or those provided by Allied Waste.
More considerations are recyclables pickup, and whether backyard pickup is desired for senior citizens. Also, the houses in Niles are farther apart in Lordstown than in Niles -- an issue that will influence the cost.
"There are a lot of criteria," Bowker said, including billing. If Lordstown decides to handle the billing rather than Allied Waste, it might have to bring on another employee to prepare bills and respond to complaints and questions.
Some communities such as Howland Township have reduced the number of trash haulers. Howland took the action because a variety of haulers served Howland on different days. That meant that unsightly trash cans were at the curb almost daily in a neighborhood.
Howland officials asked the different haulers to choose two among themselves to serve the township. The fees are set between the haulers and customers, depending on the different services they want.
yovich@vindy.com