Grove City Messenger - February 20th, 2022

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Government Focus
Village residents to see price increase in trash collection
By Dedra Cordle
Staff Writer
The village of Urbancrest has been participating in the Solid
Waste Authority of Central Ohio’s community consortium program
for more than a decade.
Within that time span, waste collection prices have been locked
at a lower rate through a collective bidding process. Late last year,
the agreement they were under lapsed and a new bidding process
began.
Having gone over the bids at its meeting on Feb. 8, the village
council authorized a new agreement that will see a slight increase
in the waste collection fee for its residents.
According to village Mayor Joseph Barnes Sr., the rate that residents
pay to have their waste and recyclables hauled will rise
from $14.99 to $19.99. The rates for senior citizens will rise to
$17.99.
While Barnes said rate hikes on any bill are not ideal, this was
the lowest bid presented to members of the consortium.
“We have been in this program since 2011 and since 2011 this
is the first time they have had to increase the rates,” Barnes said.
He said the village weighed the pros and cons of not authorizing
the agreement but came to the determination that it presented the
best deal for its residents.
“We would end up paying much more (had they not approved
the new agreement),” he said.
Under the terms of the new agreement, the government buildings
will receive their trash collection for free, as will the local
churches. Barnes said they will also receive a special rate when
they host community cleanup events.
SWACO’s community consortium program was formed in 2005
in an effort to increase waste diversion. The program allows communities
to bargain for greater negotiating power when contracting
for solid waste, recycling, and yard waste collection services.
Rumpke was awarded the hauling contract for this new agreement,
which runs through the end of 2026. Local Waste will continue
to be the provider for the village. Its neighboring communities
— the city of the Grove City and Jackson Township — are also
a part of the community consortium program. They too recently
reauthorized the trash collection agreement for the same rate as
the village.
In other news, an update on the process
of the work being done at the Vaughn E.
Hairston Southwest Community Center
was provided at the meeting. According to
Barnes, plumbers have recently been out to
the site to give estimates and electricians
are scheduled to come out later this month.
He said the center will be transitioning to
no-touch bathroom fixtures and LED lighting
throughout the complex to cut down on
costs.
Council member Lacy Wallace Jr. asked
whether the community would have access
to the facility this summer. Barnes said he
believes there will be allowances for youth
programs but said it was too early to determine
whether it will be completely available
to the public.
February 20, 2022 - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - PAGE 7
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