Disposal contract awaits approval

By D. Richard Roth

Disposing of trash and refuse within the city limits of DeKalb this summer could rise under a new disposal contract.

At Monday night’s DeKalb City Council meeting, preliminary approval was granted for a new four-year contract between the city of DeKalb and DeKalb County Disposal (DCD).

“The new contract would run for four years beginning on July 1, 1993 and running through July 30, 1996,” said Cameron Davis, DeKalb public works administrative assistant.

Davis said this contract would automatically be renewed at the end of the contract term, not withstanding any disagreement between the city and DCD.

One component of DCD’s service that will be affected is its prices.

“The contract calls for a 17 percent increase in the cost of DCD’s services per unit to take effect on July, 1, 1993, if the contract is approved,” he said.

Additionally, service cost increases of three percent would occur on July 1 of 1994 through 1996, Davis said.

The price of DCD’s increase in providing DeKalb residents with trash removal isn’t insignificant.

“Service costs for residents will increase from $115.76 to $127.84 annually,” he said.

Other components of the contract included service quality issues.

Davis said the city will require DCD to provide four landscape waste drop-off containers that are a minimum of 20 yards wide throughout the DeKalb community.

“One of these containers would be located at DCD’s Simonds Avenue location,” Davis said.

Another important change mandated under the new contract is the hours in which DCD will be required to maintain an office in DeKalb.

“Currently DCD is required to keep an office in Dekalb open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” Davis said “The new hours would be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.”

Another issue addressed in the new contract was the ambiguity surrounding the pickup and disposal of Christmas trees in the DeKalb area.

“The current contract is not specific about picking up Christmas trees. The new contract would require DCD to collect the trees on the same day regular landscape waste is collected for two consecutive weeks, starting with the first day of the second week following Christmas Day,” Davis said.

Lastly, the city of DeKalb asked DCD to be formally required to run paid advertisements in local papers announcing changes in scheduled pickup dates.

The fate of approving the new contract lies with the council and probably will be reviewed at its first scheduled meeting in March.

In the meantime, residents with questions and concerns can attend a public information meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. 4th St.

Advance questions can be directed to the city of DeKalb at 748-2020.