The controversy that emerged when the Wichita Falls City Council took up the issue of private trash roll-off containers two years ago has not abated. —
The city adopted a new ordinance then that banned the private companies from placing the roll-offs at residences, giving the city rights to that business and limiting the private companies to commercial and industrial customers.
Mayor Tim Short made revisiting that controversial change a campaign issue and resurrected it for discussion only at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
“This all has to do with being more business friendly,” Short said. “I think people ought to be free to choose who they use.”
Short said he wants to eliminate the city-imposed reporting requirements and site permits and to allow the roll-off companies to offer residential service again with containers above 10 yards in size. He also wants anyone who takes trash to the city’s landfill to pay.
The changes would not affect routine residential garbage pickup the city provides twice weekly.
Public Works Director Russell Schreiber told councilors the city is required by state law and local ordinance to be the sole provider of solid waste service within the city. He said the city spends hundreds of millions of dollars to provide the services at cost.
He said the ordinance revisions in 2022 came about after his staff discovered third-party roll-off companies had “significantly infiltrated and supplanted” the city’s commercial collection service, forcing higher collection rates onto residents
He said the former ordinance “pretty terrible,” and the new one was working well.
People who spoke out at the meeting did not agree.
Wichita County Commissioner Mickey Fincannon, a private roll-off provider, disputed Schreiber’s claim that the private companies cost the city money.
“You’re being misled by the gentleman,” he said.
He said since the ordinance took effect, 200 more roll-off dumpsters have come to town to be used by contractors who claim they’re hauling trash from their homes but then dump it into the city’s landfill for free.
“You all are missing so much revenue. If you think you make money on the collection, you’re sadly mistaken. That landfill is where y’all make money,” Fincannon told the councilors.
Hayden Hansen, also a roll-off operator, said he feels the city is singling out the private roll-off companies for fees that other businesses don’t have to pay.
Another operator, Kerry Wylie, presented a lengthy outline of suggestions he thought would improve the ordinance.
Banker Wayne Pharries spoke in favor of revising the ordinance, saying he was speaking for all small businesses in the city in calling the ordinance “a major usurpation of their businesses.”
Michael Albert of ServiceMaster, a disaster response and restoration company, said the city requirement for residents to get a city permit for a roll-off is troublesome after hours and on weekends when city offices are closed.
Albert said almost every time he has called the city for a permit, he’s gotten a recording telling him to leave a message. He said that was unacceptable.
Businesswoman and former mayoral candidate Carol Murray encouraged the council members to “eliminate the government oversight as much as you possibly can.”
Councilors indicated they were open to revisiting the ordinance. Short said he would bring the topic back for action at a future meeting.
Most Popular
Comments / 0