The monthly trash bills of Lake Station residents could jump $4 next year, pending a final vote on an ordinance the city council advanced Thursday. Senior citizens would see a $2 monthly increase under the ordinance.
The heated meeting culminated in a 4-3 vote to raise the rates after a majority of council members rejected Mayor Christopher Anderson’s proposal to contract with a Crown Point company for five years. Anderson said citizens wouldn’t see a rate hike under his plan.
“I believe strongly we shouldn’t be here today talking about a rate increase. We’re here because that offer was rejected,” Anderson said.
Under his proposal approved by the Board of Public Works in October, the city would retain GMI Recycling Services to collect trash. He said and city sanitation workers would be shifted into the street department and no jobs would be lost.
The council, however, rejected a move to establish a line item for the proposal last month, setting the stage for the rate increase because the city’s aging garbage truck fleet is beset with frequent, costly breakdowns that generate complaints from residents when trash isn’t picked up.
Money from the rate hike would be targeted for the purchase of two new trash hauling trucks, estimated to cost nearly $1 million. The majority of residents would see their monthly bills go from $14.50 to $18.50, under the plan.
After selling the city water plant earlier this year, contracting out trash service wasn’t palatable to the majority of council members.
“I don’t want to sell Lake Station off,” said Councilman Fred Williams, D-3rd. “It’s bad enough we had to lose the water department… what will we get rid of next, the parks department?”
Six of the seven council members are in their first terms, winning election after the former mayor Keith Soderquist’s corruption scandal.
“Sometimes the easy route is not the right route. Let’s fight, it’s going to be a great city. We can’t take no more black eyes,” Williams said in his support of keeping the service in-house.
He was joined by Esther Rocha-Baldazo, D-at large, Jennifer Miller, D-independent, and Carlos Luna, D-1st.
“I’m a firm believer against outsourcing. I know we can make this department work,” said Rocha-Baldazo. She said routes could be handled more efficiently and with new trucks, breakdowns would decrease.
Ericka Castillo, D-4th, Neil Anderson, D-at large, and Rick Long, D-5th, opposed the rate increase. Long and Castillo said residents told them they opposed it.
Two citizens also spoke at the meeting against the increase.
After the meeting, public works director Dewey Lemley voiced disappointment in the vote.
“We lose money by doing it ourselves and raising rates … not one of them have talked to me,” he said of the council.
“It made more sense to farm it out and not have to raise rates for five years and make $350,000,” Lemley said referring to the money GMI offered to pay for the city’s three Mack trash trucks.
The council could take final action on the rate increase at its Dec. 28 meeting. Anderson said he’ll use the two-week interval to try to win votes for his plan to contract the service out. “The offer is still on the table,” he said.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
