Pekin will continue to provide solid waste services in-house.
At a City Council meeting last month, the council discussed a request for proposal (RFP) for solid waste services.
According to city manager John Dossey, the purpose of the RFP was to evaluate whether it would be more cost effective to outsource services or keep them in-house. The city had received a proposal for services from GFL Environmental Inc., a Canadian waste management company.
During Monday’s meeting, the City Council unanimously approved a resolution rejecting all proposals for solid waste collection from third-party providers. Council member Jake Fletcher noted that turning over solid waste collection to an outside contractor would cede the city’s ability to control costs for the service.
“I believe they are going to price us out of the market and we will have no recourse whatsoever,” he said. “In-house, the seven of us will have recourse.”
Councilmember Karen Hohimer said her late husband’s 25 years of service with the Pekin Solid Waste Department gave her an opportunity to observe and appreciate the culture of mutual support that thrives there. She said it was common for collectors who had completed their routes to assist other collectors, or to cover routes for collectors who were sick or on vacation.
“I think it’s a great department,” Hohimer added. “I’m glad that we have in-house garbage, because we would never get the service from an outside vendor that we get from our own people.”
During the public comment portion of the meeting Monday, one city worker said he did not believe outsourcing solid waste collection would be cost effective.
“There is no savings to the city, the citizens, or the community,” said Douglas Arrowsmith, an employee of the Pekin Solid Waste Department. “If you did vote for (GFL’s proposal), you would just be giving a monopoly to GFL, which would not bode well for the next contract.”
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Pekin makes decision on proposal for garbage collection
Reporting by Mike Kramer, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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