Seligman residents’ trash service disrupted
Republic Trash takes over service while current contract reconsidered
July 26, 2017
Charlea Estes
Seligman residents were surprised last week when their trash collection service didn’t come. The issue was resolved quickly by another trash service stepping in, but the city’s future permanent trash service is still in question.
Seligman City Clerk Brian Nichols said he was made aware of the issue with the trash service last Wednesday, July 19, which is the day trash is normally picked up throughout the city. He said, “I was notified there was an issue with our trash and was told that, due to personal reasons, our trash provider didn’t have access to their trucks.” The city’s provider is Southwest Sanitation, based in Pineville.
Nichols said, “Republic Trash is stepping in and picking up the cans for the next four weeks. In that time frame, if we hear from Southwest and they resume business, then they will take back over. If the contract is terminated, we’ll have to seek bids for a new service.”
The disruption in service came as a shock. Southwest Sanitation has been the city’s trash service provider for over 15 years, according to Nichols. The city just entered into a new five-year contract in April 2016.
In the interim, Nichols arranged to have Republic Trash Service take over the city’s routes for the next month. Republic agreed to begin trash pick up on Wednesday, July 26, and each Wednesday after until August 21, which is when Southwest Sanitation has to make a decision regarding whether they will be able to continue as the city’s provider.
Since there was a gap in service for a week, the city has been taking extra polycarts out to residents to accommodate the extra week’s refuse until Republic is able to pick it up. Those outside of the city limits of Seligman were asked to be patient while Republic’s sales associates are brought up to speed on the issue and the extra business.
Nichols said the city’s attorney Darlene Parrigon issued a letter to Southwest Sanitation to bring about resolution to the issue and see how things will move forward. In the letter, Southwest Sanitation is given 30 days to resume services or default on their contract.
The Seligman Board of Aldermen held a special session on July 20 to discuss the trash service issue.
Nichols said, “It’s unknown at the moment if [Southwest Sanitation] will continue.” If Southwest Sanitation defaults on the contract, the city will seek new bids on trash service for city residents.
Seligman city residents pay $12.52 each month for trash service. The fee is included in their monthly water and sewer bill. Nichols said the bills will remain the same while Republic Trash takes over. He said, “In the letter we mailed out, it explains [Southwest Sanitation] has 30 days to continue business as normal and reimburse the City any additional cost incurred during this emergency time period or their contract will be terminated. So basically, they have 30 days to pick up where they left off.”
When asked about how switching to a different service if Southwest Sanitation doesn’t fulfill their contract might impact customers’ bills, Nichols said it should not be significant moving forward, even if the city does have to switch services. He said, “Republic has agreed to accept the same terms, so that shouldn’t be an issue. If a different service takes over, it might be a small rate increase, but I don’t anticipate it being more than a 75-cent increase over the next five years.”
Charlea Estes
Seligman residents were surprised last week when their trash collection service didn’t come. The issue was resolved quickly by another trash service stepping in, but the city’s future permanent trash service is still in question.
Seligman City Clerk Brian Nichols said he was made aware of the issue with the trash service last Wednesday, July 19, which is the day trash is normally picked up throughout the city. He said, “I was notified there was an issue with our trash and was told that, due to personal reasons, our trash provider didn’t have access to their trucks.” The city’s provider is Southwest Sanitation, based in Pineville.
Nichols said, “Republic Trash is stepping in and picking up the cans for the next four weeks. In that time frame, if we hear from Southwest and they resume business, then they will take back over. If the contract is terminated, we’ll have to seek bids for a new service.”
The disruption in service came as a shock. Southwest Sanitation has been the city’s trash service provider for over 15 years, according to Nichols. The city just entered into a new five-year contract in April 2016.
In the interim, Nichols arranged to have Republic Trash Service take over the city’s routes for the next month. Republic agreed to begin trash pick up on Wednesday, July 26, and each Wednesday after until August 21, which is when Southwest Sanitation has to make a decision regarding whether they will be able to continue as the city’s provider.
Since there was a gap in service for a week, the city has been taking extra polycarts out to residents to accommodate the extra week’s refuse until Republic is able to pick it up. Those outside of the city limits of Seligman were asked to be patient while Republic’s sales associates are brought up to speed on the issue and the extra business.
Nichols said the city’s attorney Darlene Parrigon issued a letter to Southwest Sanitation to bring about resolution to the issue and see how things will move forward. In the letter, Southwest Sanitation is given 30 days to resume services or default on their contract.
The Seligman Board of Aldermen held a special session on July 20 to discuss the trash service issue.
Nichols said, “It’s unknown at the moment if [Southwest Sanitation] will continue.” If Southwest Sanitation defaults on the contract, the city will seek new bids on trash service for city residents.
Seligman city residents pay $12.52 each month for trash service. The fee is included in their monthly water and sewer bill. Nichols said the bills will remain the same while Republic Trash takes over. He said, “In the letter we mailed out, it explains [Southwest Sanitation] has 30 days to continue business as normal and reimburse the City any additional cost incurred during this emergency time period or their contract will be terminated. So basically, they have 30 days to pick up where they left off.”
When asked about how switching to a different service if Southwest Sanitation doesn’t fulfill their contract might impact customers’ bills, Nichols said it should not be significant moving forward, even if the city does have to switch services. He said, “Republic has agreed to accept the same terms, so that shouldn’t be an issue. If a different service takes over, it might be a small rate increase, but I don’t anticipate it being more than a 75-cent increase over the next five years.”
