Harrodsburg City Commission Approves Signing Republic Agreement
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Robert Moore
Herald Staff
[email protected]
At Monday’s meeting, the Harrodsburg City Commission voted to renew the city’s contract with Republic Services. Residents will continue being billed directly every three months by Republic.
Starting July 1, Republic began billing customers directly. Even though the Harrodsburg Herald reported on the changeover in May, many customers were surprised in July to receive bills for trash collection from the city for the remaining part of the billing cycle and receive a bill from Republic charging them for an entire quarter, from July 1 through Sept. 30. Even though Republic had taken over billing, the city commission declined to approve signing the contract until the company provided them with more information.
“That transition was not handled as smoothly as it should have been,” City Attorney Norrie Currens said at the city commission’s meeting on Monday, Nov. 10.
At that meeting, the commissioners said the city had to sign the agreement or rebid the contract for garbage collection.
Officials said they are still receiving citizen complaints about issues such as double-billing, with citizens saying Republic refuses to issue refunds. They are also still getting calls about failed pick-ups. Commissioner Marvin “Bubby” Isham said Republic should give citizens credit if there has been double-billing.
“I don’t see how they could not give them credit,” Isham said.
Back in July, the commission voted not to sign the contract with Republic after Commissioner Charlie Mattingly raised concerns about providing inconsistent information to customers.
Currens, who noted that she had experienced issues with Republic at one of her properties, attributed some of the problems with the call center, with Republic management saying one thing while call center operators say something different.
“Every customer that calls has a complaint on a different issue,” Currens said. Republic representatives said they didn’t know where the calls center was getting their information, she said.
“There just seems to be a communications issue on their end between management and the call center,” Currens said.
Commissioner Kerry Anness said there was supposed to be a call center—or at least a team at the call center—specifically for Harrodsburg.
“So the left hand knows what the right hand’s doing,” Anness said.
Republic has continued collecting garbage and recycling in Harrodsburg since July without a contract. Mayor Bob Williams asked if there was a deadline.
“It’s your decision,” Currens said. “Are we going to sign the contract or are we going to go ahead and re-bid it?”
“I think we need to stay with them,” Commissioner Mattingly said.
“I agree with Charlie Mattingly,” Commissioner Isham said. “That’s the first time in history.”
Mercer County is served by two waste collection companies: Republic, the second largest waste management company in the United States, which is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, and Rumpke Waste and Recycling, a family owned business headquartered near Cincinnati, Ohio. Republic has the franchise for waste disposal and recycling in Harrodsburg while Rumpke has the franchise for Burgin and Mercer County. The franchise agreements preclude other waste disposal companies from operating in the defined locations.
Earlier this year, Harrodsburg advertised for bidders for garbage collection and recycling services after receiving complaints about trash not being picked up in several areas around town.
The city ultimately received only two bids, from Republic and Rumpke. City officials said they felt there wasn’t enough difference between the two bids to switch over.
“I think we should go ahead and sign the contract, Mayor Williams said. He said the city would “have more teeth to make sure the agreement” was honored. The contract is for three years, which would go into effect from the date of signing. Williams asked if there was a clause to get out of the agreement.
Currens said the city would have to prove Republic defaulted under the terms of the agreement.
“It needs to be a substantial default,” Currens said.
Mayor Williams moved to approve signing the contract with Republic for the next three years. Commissioner Anness seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
