Fort Wayne’s troubled garbage collection is expected to reclaim the spotlight at City Council Tuesday night, with a new resolution on the agenda targeting changes to the contractual process.
Councilman Jason Arp (R, 4th) is proposing a return to “market-based garbage collection” in the city, demanding the city enforce “the terms of the current
contract and by refraining from entering into a new contract.”
The resolution says Fort Wayne operated in good faith in accordance with state laws when it agreed to a seven-year garbage collection contract with Red River Waste Solutions. It highlights an array of difficulties since the contract took effect in January 2018, and suggests Red River currently has a “monopoly” on local trash collection.
Arp concludes that “competition and freedom of choice of contractor, level of service, and price would allow the market forces to come to equilibrium efficiently.”
The language also requests the Henry administration apply contractually prescribed fines Red River has incurred for missed or outright late pickups; earlier this summer, those fines were projected somewhere around $960,000.
While the resolution is non-binding, it’s yet another salvo in the ongoing, 19-months-and-counting war of words between Council and the Mayor’s Office over dissatisfaction with Red River’s work.
The measure is co-sponsored by Councilman Paul Ensley, (R-1st). It is expected to be presented before council Tuesday evening at 5:30.
