Groveland Twp.? Township officials will soon consider a township-wide preferred waste hauling contract for residents.
‘Our primary concern is to save the residents money,? said David Ax, Groveland Township trustee, who will lead the upcoming work session. ‘Our objective is to provide the residents a preferred vendor and not make it one contract for the whole township.?
At issue is waste collection for about 2,100 township households, who currently pay an average of about $50 per three month period for the service.
Prior to the May 12 Groveland Township board meeting where the upcoming work session was announced, Ax polled several area waste haulers who were interested in such a proposal. The vendors indicated an average savings of about $14 per three month period could be realized with a such a program.
While many residents would rather select their own waste collection service another major hurdle for township officials is billing the township residents for the service, which Ax says could add to the cost of waste collection.
‘If the township receives one bill (from the waste hauler) for all residential pick up it would cost the township more money,? said Ax. ‘We’d have to hire a clerk (to do the billing) and the cost of collection would increase.?
A similar idea was proposed several years ago in Groveland Township, however, the proposal was nixed after vendors stipulated a single township invoice collected by the township versus individual residential billing.
Some of the issues for a preferred vendor include:
nSpecific days for garbage collection could be established. The measure would hopefully eliminate the time garbage is set by the roadside reducing the opportunity for animals or weather to disrupt it.
nA single waste hauler would be more reliable. If a driver is gone on vacation or absent from the route homes are often missed and garbage is left out by the road too long.
nThe number of trucks on the rural road will be decreased. Considering the number of gravel roads in Groveland Township, a single truck could replace several traveling the same road.
Although Brandon Township officials are currently not seeking a preferred vendor for the 3,500 households who choose their own waste hauler, such an option would be considered.
‘I’m not opposed to a central hauler that would limit the number of trucks on the road,? said Ron Lapp, Brandon township supervisor.
‘It just makes good sense to shop around for the best deal for everyone.?
Both Brandon and Groveland townships are not alone in residents choosing their own waste collection.
Evelyn David, information director for the Michigan Association of Township Supervisors in Lansing, says statewide about 600 of the 1,242 townships don’t provide waste collection services for their residents.The other townships offer a central waste collection and either fund the refuse collection from the general fund, or through a special assessment.