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Background
re: Sole Residential Trash Hauler Program
To Granville Township Residents:
The solid
waste and recycling exploration was initiated by a number
of Township residents who knew and understood many other
cities, villages and townships had saved their residents
considerable costs utilizing a single provider. Granville
Trustees talked directly with Trustees in St. Albans,
Union, Etna, Mary Ann, Bowling Green, and Burlington
Townships which currently have single provider service and
found, after the first two weeks of implementation, the
program ran smoothly and was met with widespread
acceptance and satisfaction.
While several citizens have objected to having their
ability to chose taken away, on the other hand, many more
residents have expressed an interest in a single provider
service. Within the agreement there is something for
everyone.
Following are the benefits of contracting with Big O which
submitted the lowest and most responsive bid:
1. For those that care about the cleanliness of the
community, the agreement speaks to single day collection,
appearance and condition of the collection equipment and
control of litter.
2. For senior citizens on a limited budget, it mandates a
significant discount of 10% off the agreed base price.
3. For those with disabilities, it requires collection
“next to the house” or other location that affords them a
safer and easier way of taking out the trash, and at no
additional cost.
4. For those who are concerned about safety, it limits
the number of heavy collection vehicles traveling on
hilly, curved roads in the Township, reduces the necessity
of residents driving around numerous trash trucks and
crossing over double yellow lines, limits the times those
trucks can be on certain heavily traveled streets and
limits the times trash vehicles can be in the close
proximity of schools.
5. For those concerned about the environment, it controls
and mandates the type of material that must be collected
and recycled.
6. For people
with other special needs, it allows them to negotiate
services above and beyond the basic contract.
7. If the community wants to add,
subtract or change materials as new recycling methods are
available it allows for Trustees to request such change.
8. The agreement mandates that all
material is collected and treated in compliance with
Local, State and Federal laws. That is not to say that
the material is not currently being handled in an
appropriate manner, the proposed agreement simply gives
control to the Township to assure material will always be
handled properly.
9. By selecting a single company there will be fewer
vehicles in the community, therefore, far less air
emissions will pollute the environment.
10. In the tragic event there is an accident involving
injury or property damage, the agreement requires
sufficient insurance to properly compensate affected
residents.
11. By limiting the number of vehicles in the community it
will also reduce wear and tear on roads. Some will claim
this reduction is so small it makes little or no
difference to the condition of roads. Because refuse
vehicles work on the edge of any road, not in the normal
traffic lanes, crossing back and forth over the pavement
with multiple heavy vehicles causes significant damage to
the pavement, much more so than normal traffic traveling
in regular lanes. Therefore, by reducing the number of
collection trucks, road damage will be reduced. Travis
Binckley, our road supervisor, will confirm this fact.
12. The agreement includes unsatisfactory service to be
addressed by the chosen provider which is backed through
the contract with the Township. Residents are currently
at the mercy of multiple contractors without the backing
of a governmental agreement.
13. For all residents in this difficult economic time the
agreement will result in lower costs as a result of the
efficiencies and economies a single provider can achieve.
The contract sets prices for a three year period and locks
in that rate regardless of fuel costs. In these trying
times this should be attractive to Township residents.
Estimates of saving to the residents over the three year
period run form 25% to 30%. Diesel fuel prices are 30%
lower than just one year ago and the 25%-30% savings does
not include the potential savings to residents if fuel
prices begin to rise to 2007-2008 levels.
14. Big O is a local company and was willing to accept the
Township's severe bid specifications.
15. Our research reveals the Big O bid was lowest for the
basic service fee, recycling fee, tote fee, and senior
citizen discount.
16. Big O's quote is all inclusive with a significant
reduction for senior citizens and no fuel charges for 3
years.
17. Big O's disposal facilities/arrangements have
guaranteed price and disposal capacities at a licensed
Ohio landfill that extend beyond the 3 year contract and
Trustees have in their possession documents certifying
long term contracts with Tunnel Hill Landfill, with Waste
Management's Landfill as well as Rumpke's MRF.
18. Our
consultant, Fiscal Officer and a Trustee have met with Big
O's President as well as their primary contacts who will
handle all service calls. They also have assured us they
have the equipment on hand including carts to start the
contract.
19 Our consultant and a Trustee have toured Big O's fleet
repair facility, their contractor’s MRF in Columbus, and
are knowledgeable about their two landfill sites.
20. The Licking County Health Department physically
inspects Big O's trucks annually and approves them for
service.
21. Big O permitted our Township Fiscal Officer to
inspect and review their financial records.
22. HB 505.27
Collection, Transfer and Disposal of Solid Wastes permits
townships to enter into a contract with a sole independent
contractor to collect residential wastes and eliminate
other contractors.
23. A survey of Township interest was conducted, the issue
was pre-announced for discussion in a public meeting, and
the bids were made public to the media and are posted on
the Granville Township web site.
This should leave the only negative concern to be one of
losing the right to choose providers. It is the belief of
Trustees that the Big O agreement benefits everyone in the
Township. It is also believed the majority of residents
will agree once they comprehend all features of the
agreement.
Your Granville Township Trustees
Fred Abraham
Bill Habig Bill Mason
02/17/09
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