Wright City aldermen at their Oct. 8 meeting debated whether to allow trash haulers to bid for five-year contracts with the city.

The city government issued a call for trash service providers to submit bids last month after expressing dissatisfaction with current provider Meridian Waste. The request was for bids on a two-year contract for trash and recycling service.

This month, City Administrator Jim Schuchmann told the board of aldermen that a potential hauler asked if Wright City would consider a longer contract in exchange for a discounted rate.

“The statement that was made was that, if they’re going to go out and invest in trucks to add (to their fleet), to take on the Wright City routes, trying to amortize those trucks over two years is going to be very expensive,” Schuchmann explained. “If they could do it over a five-year period, it would help reduce the cost.”

After City Attorney Paul Rost advised that one company submitting a five-year alternate bid meant every company needs the same opportunity, Ward 2 Alderman Ramiz Hakim said he opposes even entertaining such proposals.

“We’ve already caught ourselves in a two-year contract where we’re resenting what happened, in some cases,” Hakim said. “I feel like, the shorter the contract, the more accountable they are going to be with the board and with the citizens of Wright City. If you put them on a five-year deal, they’ve got three years to mess up and then they’re going to get it together the last two years.”

Hakim stated he believes residents would prefer to pay a little more and have reliable trash service, rather than save a couple dollars each month on a longer contract for worse service.

By contrast, Hakim pointed to a slew of recent communications from Meridian Waste, whose business with the city is now on the line, looking for any issues that the company can address.

“That would not be taking place if their contract renewal did not happen until 2024,” Hakim said. “I would keep them accountable and keep them to a 24 month contract.”

Ward 1 Aldermen Michelle Heiliger replied by commenting that some of the recent issues with Meridian were because complaints weren’t being communicated to them, making it hard to say a lack of accountability was the only problem.

Heiliger said the best decision on trash service would come from having the most information.

“If we can get (five-year bid information), evaluate it and make a decision, I’d rather that than not have the information,” Heiliger said.

Mayor Dan Rowden agreed with that position. He advised the city administration to have all trash haulers submit two-year bids, but also include prices for a five-year contract as an alternate.

Administrator Schuchmann said he would update the interested trash haulers. He added that the board of aldermen needs to decide on a trash hauler by December in order for a potentially new provider to be ready by March 1, 2021.