Bidding for Ironton’s garbage disposal contract has been closed and city officials say they could soon start saving money.

Wednesday, January 10, 2001

Bidding for Ironton’s garbage disposal contract has been closed and city officials say they could soon start saving money.

Mick Stevens, a representative from Cooksey Brothers Disposal landfill, requested Ironton City Council’s Finance Committee members give his company’s bid "serious consideration."

The city’s annual five-year contract with Cooksey Brothers Disposal expired in December.

Of the three new bids submitted to the city, Green Valley Environmental was the lowest bidder, Ironton Mayor Bob Cleary said.

"It is important that we get the very best value for the residents of Ironton," Cleary said after the meeting. "I can’t justify paying $21.75 per ton to Cooksey Brothers versus paying $17.50 per ton to Green Valley."

The low bid from Green Valley should raise some concern Stevens said.

He asked officials to "consider the extra mileage garbage trucks would accrue" in traveling to his competitor’s landfill and the "additional fuel costs to the city."

"We need to keep your business and we want your business," he said to the committee.

But, if the city elects to enter into a five-year contract with Green Valley, they would still be paying $4.25 a ton less in five years, Cleary said.

"Even if garbage disposal rates increase in five years, we still pay less by going with Green Valley’s bid," he said. "If we go with the higher rate, city council will need to look at raising garbage fees. I think the best decision is to go with the lower price."

Cleary also said he sees "no savings in labor and very minimal savings in fuel" by going to Green Valley’s landfill.

"And that’s not to mention there won’t be as much damage to trucks to repair," he said. "Yes, it is a little bit farther to travel, but Green Valley has better road conditions to the dump site and we’ll save on repair costs. Given the current budget problems, there is no sense in placing an added burden to the budget and raising costs to the citizens."