Avery Johnson

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The Cleveland City Council on Tuesday rescinded its vote last week to award a garbage collection contract and decided to seek new bids.

Meanwhile, council members voted to extend a contract to Dec. 30 with current provider Waste Connections. The price of $6.63 a month may increase no more than 5 percent in that time, city Finance Director Mike Keith said.

“There’s so many calls and so many issues that have come out on this contract, the way it is and the way we awarded the contract,” Vice Mayor Avery Johnson said during a special meeting.

“I’ve had more phone calls over this one issue than any other issue since I’ve been on the council,” said David May. “That’s because it affects all households.”

He said most callers do not want the automated service that was included in the contract with Waste Services, a subsidiary of Santek Environmental.

Last week, the council voted 4-3 vote to contract with Waste Services. The company uses trucks with automatic arms to handle 96-gallon household trash containers.

Council members said they were flooded with calls protesting that the elderly and handicapped residents cannot manage the large containers. Some residents echoed that concern Tuesday, and the council was handed a petition with 70 names.

Councilman Richard Banks said Waste Connections knew in October that the city was going to seek bids rather than give the company a third, three-year extension.

But the bidding was delayed, he said, placing bidders and the city in a dilemma.

“We are dealing with something that should have been dealt with months ago,” he said.

He and Councilwoman Bambi Hines said the council routinely hears complaints about animals tearing up unprotected plastic bags left at the curb.

“For the past four or five years, in every meeting, we have dealt with this,” he said.

In the meantime, the city will seek new bids for a five-year contract for residential and commercial collection plus commercial recycling. Residential curbside recycling is not included.

Another bid will seek a five-year contract to dispose of trash and debris collected by city Public Works crews. Last week that contract was awarded to Waste Connections.

The council asked the city staff to expedite the next bidding process.

Mrs. Casteel said winning bidders will know in July if they need to order equipment before the contract begins Jan. 1.