Mayor sends discussion back to committee
By Michael S. Hoey
correspondent
The Common Council meeting on Oct. 15 drew a much bigger crowd than usual and lasted over an hour and a half due to the council’s consideration of adopting a city-wide trash collection contract.
The General Operations Committee discussed the idea on Oct. 1 and voted to recommend moving forward with the plan, but that plan needed the approval of the council.
The council, after hearing from several residents, was split on their vote 3-3. Mayor Ryan Schroeder had to cast the deciding vote and chose to send the idea back to the GOC for further discussion. The next GOC meeting is on Nov. 12.
City staff members were motivated to look into alternative options for trash collection in response to numerous complaints received about GFL, who bought Nieuwenhuis Brothers when the owners decided to retire.
GFL took over the Nieuwenhuis accounts in Delavan just over a year ago and many people have complained about the lime green carts and the inability to get a response from GFL when issues have arisen. The Enterprise reached out to GFL for comment after the GOC meeting without receiving a response.
The wild card in the request for proposal process that the city issued on Sept. 10 was a familiar company name on one of the proposals. GFL, John’s, LRS, and Waste Management all submitted proposals, which was expected. A reincarnated Nieuwenhuis trash collection company also submitted a proposal. That, judging by comments made during the meeting, came as a surprise.
During public comments, Dustin Nieuwenhuis said he started his own company and admitted his costs came in higher than GFL or John’s. GFL submitted the lowest bid, but the GOC reserved the right not to select the lowest bidder if that bidder was deemed to not be able to provide the quality of service the city needed. Due to the complaints the city received about GFL, the GOC recommended a city-wide contract with John’s.
Nieuwenhuis said his costs were higher because his company is new and he had to buy trucks and carts, but he has been in the industry his entire life and would provide the kind of service Delavan residents were accustomed to under the previous incarnation of the Nieuwenhuis business.
Several residents spoke about giving the new company a chance. One of the perceived benefits of going with John’s at the GOC level was that John’s, located in Whitewater, is much more local than GFL, based in Canada. Some residents argued Nieuwenhuis is even more local, based right here in Delavan.
“I am banking on what our family was and I want to continue that legacy and keep working hard to take care of the people of this community,” Nieuwenhuis said.
For the full story, please see the print edition of the Delavan Enterprise.
