BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL HOLDS WORKSHOP ON CHANGES TO TRASH DISPOSAL
The Brenham City Council met in work session this (Thursday) afternoon to discuss possible changes to garbage bag disposal fees and procedures.
Public Works Director Dane Rau spoke to the council, saying that, while the per-trash-bag disposal service runs smoothly at the collection station, it has “taken a toll on operations” at the recycling station. He said the amount of work it takes to empty dumpsters, along with the limited number of staff having to handle cash, takes time away from both the yard and recycling customers.
The city has charged $1 per bag for trash disposal for over 15 years. Trash can either be brought to the collection station or recycling center. These services are typically used by residents out in the county.
Rau said one of the main problems for the city has been its need to have sanitation drivers go off the residential route several times a day, to empty full dumpsters. Drivers sometimes have to come in early and on Saturdays, when the dumpsters get too full.
Rau said it would be better for operations, finances, and employees to remove dumpsters from the recycling center and transition everyone to the collection station. He said this decision would help sanitation staff be more efficient, and allow for added accountability. In addition, the cost to dispose of each bag could be raised to $2, to cover costs of the service. Several councilmembers voiced their approval of these changes, saying it was the right move for the department.
Through the year, the city takes in $80,000 at the recycling center, but these funds are directed to residential collection since they are paying the disposal fee. When asked by Councilman Andrew Ebel how much the collection station makes, Rau said he didn’t have the exact amount, but that it was comparable to the recycling center.
If approved by the council, the city would issue out letters in January, notifying customers of the change. It would begin transferring services in February.
In other items, the council approved the purchase of new playground equipment for the Blue Bell Aquatic Center (BBAC). This new equipment, which is expected around April or May, will replace the current playground close to the entrance of the aquatic center leisure pool. Rau said what equipment, which is around 15 years old, was “due up for replacement”.
The new design is custom made, and consists mainly of recycled materials that hold up better in the chemical environment. The Brenham Community Development Corporation has voted to use savings from previous projects to fund this one, which costs over $98,000. Despite the additional cost, projects still come in favorable to budget by over $22,000.
Also on Thursday, councilmembers:
- Issued second reading of an ordinance to create a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ).
- Approved a three-year contract with Presidio Networked Solutions Group, LLC, for $88,710, beginning January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2021. The maintenance contract will provide hardware support for network communications, like the Brazos Valley Wide Area Communications System.
- Issued first reading of an ordinance to place stop signs on Center Street at Crockett Street, Hosea Street at Riggs Street, and Duprie Drive at Stephanie Street.
- Issued first reading of an ordinance to abandon a portion of Salley Street.
Councilmembers did not discuss removing a property frontage requirement on public right-of-way at Selma Lane, as they stated the agenda item was withdrawn by the applicant.
The council then adjourned into executive session, to discuss potentially acquiring property in the downtown area. After executive session, the council authorized the mayor and city manager to identify available property in downtown, and to negotiate with the property owner.
We need a win win solution.
Why should one of the most successful operations for recycling and trash bag deposition be disrupted by moving the trash bag deposition to the collection center and raising the fee 100% on top of that.
The City currently charges residents $13.75 per month for trash bag pickup twice weekly and provides bags. For a typical 2 bags per pickup this equates to $1.72 per bag with city trucks going all the City to perform this service.
I would like to suggest that a $2 per bag fee be charged, but the recycling center drop off be retained. If the City can provide residental trash bag service for about $1.72 per bag, they should be able to do the recycling center pickup for $2 per bag.
Almost all of the people who use the recycle center to dispose of bagged trash are not even city residents! That means if the dollar per bag doesn’t cover costs, Council would be using taxpayer funds to subsidize service for non-residents, or reducing services to taxpaying citizens to cover cheap people who don’t want to pay for sanitation services as all Brenham residents do. That is not good stewardship of taxpayer money. County residents use the per bag service because it’s cheaper than paying a private service to come to their house. Fine, but they aren’t city taxpayers so they should be covering 100 percent of the cost! If you want city services, move to the city and pay city taxes and sanitation fees. Also, this was a work session, nobody voted on anything. The Public Works director was inviting public comment because he saw the current procedure could be improved. Not a single citizen came to ask questions or offer input. If you have complaints about this stuff, or great ideas, leaving them on KWHI’s website *after* the meeting is not useful. Go to Council and be heard before this stuff happens! TLDR; this is an example of city staff and council trying to not spend your money! Be happy!
Hey concerned citizen. I agree. Let’s just give all the managers, all the directors, all the engineers, the CFO all a pay raise with that extra buck. Heck, go ahead and raise my taxes again to make up any shortcomings. They can get what they deserve and I’lloose my home. Right after I drown in my garbage.
city residents don’t need trash pickup twice a week once a week is enough that will leave plenty of trucks and personal to get the work done at the collection/recycle station on market street
I would vote for $3.00 per bag, get ahead of the curve. Increased wages, more dumpsters, the trucks are not getting any newer and then let the staff working the stations solve the issues.
Yes now we will all have to think smarter on what we buy and throw away or pay.
City Council should be working on what keeps people wanting to move to Brenham. We appreciate them continuing making Brenham a great place to live, work and play.
C’mon now. Really? All those city Managers and city Directors and city Engineers that are making $80,0000 + a year, can just give the taxpayers back $1-$2.00 per hour of their inflated pay. That would solve the problem now and in the future. There is obviously no stopping of a self serving and unselfdesciplined government.
The city officials just don’t understand the day to day life of a working family or they just don’t care. Have any of you people of importance ever gone to the collection station, at 7:30 am the lawn care people line up to get rid of their debris from the day before and unless you are first in line you sit and sit and are late for your own job. The recycle center is the answer for that. The simple solution to the problem if one actually exists is to place a garbage truck and driver and an extra dumpster at the recycle center, the driver can collect the money unload the bags from the people that can’t do it for themselves and take the loaded truck to the transfer station as needed.This can surely be done for $160,000 per year because the rates will increase as sure as garbage stinks. The ultimate result if this is not done will become a county problem with littered roads, clogged creeks and culverts ,and more grass fires from burn barrels for the rural fire departments to deal with.
I understand why a change is needed to the trash disposal service. But I personally like taking my bag(s) of trash to the recycling center because the collection station has so many nails, screws and other debris that damage my tires, Many times after taking items to the collection station I have had nails in my tires. But I understand a change is necessary for cost .
No trash drop at the recycle station. This is the most stupid thing I have heard of yet. Citizens bring in their recyclables and Aldo stop off the trash that can’t be recycled at the same time and place. It is a ONE STOP SHOP. City management and directors have not figured this out! Elected officials can’t figure this out either! It is not a wonder that our tax dollars are mismanaged. And then ask to raise the fee by 100%. Looks like helping the environment and recycling in not cost benificial and not convenient either. Looks like local elected officials, city management and directors don’t even know how to take out the trash.
I agree with cwc also about the sanitation department ares that have nails, screws etc. I disagree with the $1 raise because what other service are you providing Dan that the sanitation doesn’t already provide? Colleen takes my $1 now and is the other $1 added charge for Bobby to take it off my truck or out of my trunk to the right destination for disposal? I just don’t get it! You give someone a little authority and it goes straight to the head. I can guarantee that the 80,000 $1 dollar bag trash customers will not drive out to the collection station aka sanitation department to take their bags so it’s gonna be a big loss for the city and make my words it will return once another educator gets a roll and decides it’s better to make money rather then loss it! What don’t the city council see about this situation? All y’all see is $$$ signs until you get a flat or gotta go get your tire fixed on your time and money spent then the real picture will prove this is another failed attempt to gain money over having the dumpsters empty on a regular basis. Why not leave a city dumpster truck on the recycling center site and if one of the two dumpsters gets full just have a guy/girl city worker at the recycling center go dump it then continue their day. How hard is it to figure out smarter and more efficient remedies then hold a meeting for the squirrel to cross the road only to forget his nut on every single thing in this town!!! Lastly- I guess if they have that much time for meetings and extended lunches and riding around pointing figures then they sure have time to go pick up a dumpster truck and empty it theirself because they are on the city payroll so let’s start in this direction…
*Please post to inform the new customers if this change is made so they can prepare to take their trash elsewhere. Thanks
While I agree that moving the service might not be a good idea, and might need to have more thought put into that. to say there needs to be a trash truck there all the time is crazy. I just going to guess but I say a trash truck cost $250,000.00 or more, and am pretty sure the city does not just have a extra one of those sitting around not in use. If you are willing to pay the cost of the new truck then you are welcome to. As far as raising the rate per bag the issue there is cost for everything are going up. Trying running a business these days insurance, wages, and other operating cost. I am sure the thought is so you don’t have to pay a city employee to make change for people all day to raise the amount to $2.00 instead of $1.50. Once again if your willing to sit and make change all day for free am sure the city would think about that. As it stands now it is on a honor system as far as paying. I have heard to have a trash service at your home out of the city come pickup trash once a week can cost over $40.00 a month. So to dump your 10 bags of trash a month for most families even at $2.00 a bag is still a 50% savings over your next best option. Yes you have to take it your self, but am sure you don’t make a special trip to do that.
I took trash and recycling stuff the yeasterday. I looked around the back when leaving and saw a garbage truck setting in the back with leaves all over it. Get it running and problem is solved
Gets its to simple
Great looking out! I bet if they city council who voted for this drastic change looks at these comments the trash truck will be gone by Wednesday! If they would of left the a/c heat and observe before adding dollar signs this wouldn’t even be a topic. Let’s get some new blood in charge to make the citizens money last a little longer or we might have a shut down! One more situation that could and most likely will happen is the trash will just be left all over the county so if your simple (huh) then volunteer to pick up on every other weekend and thanks in advance!
Please provide city council city managemere city engineer city public works director city chief financial officer a pictorial diagram, pie chart without decimals and a flow chart. Hopefully Brenham city mass management system will understand without raising our taxes again.