Rival trash haulers seek Sylva contract

By Lynn Hotaling

Town leaders will discuss the relative merits of each plan tonight (Thursday) during a work session set to begin at 5 p.m. They are expected to award next year's residential trash hauling contract at a special meeting scheduled to follow the Tuesday, June 25, budget hearing.

Country Collections of Sylva, the town's current hauler, has offered to provide garbage and recycling collection to the town's 1,000 households at the current rate of $4.89 per household per month ($4,890/month) for the 2002-03 budget year - provided the town awards the company a five-year contract. The five-year proposal includes a $100 per month increase during each subsequent year. If town leaders elect to award a one-year contract, Country Collections' bid is higher - $6.13 per household per month ($6,130/month).

Either scenario makes Country Collections the low bidder because the town's former hauler, Hendersonville-based GDS, submitted a bid of $6.87 per household per month ($6,870/month) for the first year with subsequent yearly increases tied to the Consumer Price Index.

When GDS lost Sylva's trash hauling contract last year, the company was receiving $8,075 per month to collect the town's residential trash and recyclables. GDS General Manager Scott Welch told town board members that GDS would accept either a one-, three- or five-year contract.

"We're a little higher, but we can provide impeccable service," Welch said. "As a corporation we're owned by Republic Services, the third largest (garbage collection company) in the United Sates, but we have local folks and use local vendors."

Welch cited several regional town and county managers, including Jackson County Manager Ken Westmoreland, who he said could vouch for the quality of service Welch's company provides. GDS is also willing to post a performance bond, Welch said.

GDS could offer 96-gallon "toters" (roll-to-the curb trash containers) to each household at a $24 per year cost to individual residents, Welch said.

Country Collections co-owners Bud Boynton and Bobby Gunter spoke on behalf of their company.

"I'm happy (GDS) has other places, and I know they're a big company," Gunter said. "But (Sylva) is where I live, and this is what I want. This is my life."

Country Collections' record since Boynton and Gunter took over in December proves what the company can do, Boynton said.

"I took over on Dec. 1," Boynton said. "We were not in good shape then. I made a personal guarantee that Country Collections would fulfill its contract with the town.

"(Residents') complaints have dramatically decreased, and I feel our record stands for itself," Boynton said.

Country Collections can offer toters to residents through a lease/purchase agreement if town officials prefer the containers be used, Boynton said. "Is it worth $25,000 a year to give (the town's garbage collection contract) to a big name?" Boynton asked.

In other business June 6:

- Board members postponed their July meeting until Thursday, July 11, to avoid a conflict with the Fourth of July, which falls on a Thursday this year. Sylva's board regularly meets on the first Thursday of each month.

- Town leaders approved the following Sylva Fire Department's officers: Mike Beck, chief; Alan Farmer, first assistant chief; James Rogers, second assistant chief; Harold Norman and Brian Wellman, captains; Dale Nations, safety officer; Terry Griffin, secretary; Mike Bryson and Jeff Manka, purchasing; and Mike Farmer, chaplain.

- After discussion relating to Plum Street, Mayor Brenda Oliver referred the matter to the town's street committee for a recommendation.

Some residents would like to see the state-maintained street paved, but there is apparently not enough right of way for the Department of Transportation to undertake any upgrades, town clerk Tommy Thompson said.

Additional discussion centered around the street's drainage problems. A local paving contractor expressed reservations about paving the road without first improving its drainage, town Manager Richard McHargue said.

- Sylva officials endorsed a planned arts and crafts bazaar to be held in conjunction with the Jackson County Farmers' Market in the town-owned Railroad Avenue parking lot on Saturday mornings.

Organizer David Whitwan told town leaders the focus would be to give Western Carolina University students an opportunity to sell or trade their artwork.

Back to Archive: 06/13/02.