GAS — Gas will get into the trash business.
Steve Robb, city superintendent, told councilmen Tuesday evening he thought city employees could handle the weekly chore and, “the way I have it figured, we can put about $700 in the bank each month.”
The opportunity arose with the recent announcement that Cole’s Trash Service, LaHarpe, would discontinue residential pickupin Gas at the end of June.
Stan Plauche, representative of Green Environmental Services, Erie, told councilmen his firm could take on residential customers when Cole’s quit. Green purchased the north route of Dual County Sanitation a year ago, which includes Allen County, and has commercial accounts in Gas.
Cole’s has charged residents $7 a month and Plauche said his firm tentatively would provide the same service for $8.25, maybe a little less if City Clerk Rhonda Hill did the firm’s billing.
Robb then outlined how he thought Gas could provide trash pickup.
Robb said a used trash truck was available at Ray’s Metal Depot that “we can make work. Ray wants $5,500 for it and the only other expense immediately would be a set of new tires.”
Councilmen voted a limit of $10,000 to start a municipal trash service for all Gas residents and those living in East Lawn. While they didn’t vote last night to do so, councilmen were receptive to making the service mandatory for Gas residents, which would ensure monthly income.
Robb stressed that pickup would be limited to residential properties, which would allow the city to dump at Allen County Landfill without a tipping fee. He assured councilmen “it is something we can do to make money for the city without putting a lot of money into it.”
Gas has two full-time employees available, including Robb, and two part time.
“If we were to get into a pinch, I know some people here we could hire part time for a week or two to help with pickup,” Robb said.
City plans to take over trash pickup
