Police Jury negotiating with Progressive on garbage contract

   There may not be as significant of a change in the parishwide solid waste program in the next two years as some jurors would prefer, but change is coming.

   Avoyelles Police Jury President Charles Jones said the current contract with Progressive Waste Solutions will expire on Jan. 1.

   Jurors have been looking at attractive alternatives to the curb-to-landfill contract with Progressive, but those plans cannot be put into full force within six months, Jones said.

  Jurors are upset with Progressive on a few points: (1) There are more complaints about collections than in the  past. (2) The company has failed to keep its promise to buy small “satellite” trucks to send down rural roads in bad weather when the large trucks cannot pass on the roads. (3) Progressive did not maintain an operations office in Avoyelles, opting to serve the parish from its Alexandria office.

  On the other hand, Progressive has complained that it is getting shorted in its per-customer payment method and wants a recount of the parish’s residential garbage customers.

  The two partners appear to be akin to a married couple who don’t like each other but are staying together “for the children.” The “children,”  in this case, would be the citizens of Avoyelles who are paying for weekly -- twice-weekly in Marksville and Bunkie -- garbage collection through a 1-percent sales tax.

   Several jurors have made comments that they would support breaking the one-shop-stop contract into three parts -- one for residential collection, one to haul the tons of garbage to the landfill, and a third contract with the landfill for disposal.

   Jones said he personally believes that would be “more beneficial to the parish.”

  To make the system work best, the parish would need a transfer station where the collection trucks would dump into large trailers, which would then be hauled to the landfill.

  “We can’t do that in six months,” he continued. “We will probably offer Progressive an option of an extension, but there are conditions we would want met.

  The parish has the option of renewing its service contract with Progressive when the current contract expires. It can extend the contract for any period up to five years. 

  “We can also send the contract back to the street and advertise for bids,” Jones added.

  The parish might need another two years to construct a transfer station and get the procedures for a revamped solid waste program in place.

  “We will be meeting with Progressive and may be ready with a decision next month,” Jones said.

  He said the main issue with jurors is the need for smaller trucks to ensure service to residents on rural roads in rainy weather.

  “They only have weekly collection, and if the big truck can’t get down the road one week, then it is two weeks of garbage,” he continued. “If your garbage is picked up on Wednesday and it rains two     Wednesdays in a row, now you have three weeks of garbage stacked up.”

   Jones said it is not fair to those customers when Progressive uses the excuse that its trucks can’t travel on the muddy roads.

   “My whole issue centers on the level of service to the public,” he said.

   Progressive “has a point” on the number of customers it is paid for under the contract, Jones said.

  Under the contract, Progressive is paid for 17,500 collection units. Jones said that is based on a count taken in 2000. There have been comments that the count should be closer to 21,000. Progressive can demand a new count, but if it would come in less than 17,500 it would be stuck with that lower number.

   “Progressive wants a recount,” Jones said. “We want satellite trucks and an office in Avoyelles. After this month, all of our options will be put on the table from both sides. We will probably decide what to do at the next meeting.”