Marion appears interested in privatizing trash pickup
Staff writers
Marion has been losing money in its trash collection service, leaving council members receptive to a presentation last week on privatizing the service.
“We would be out of business if we were private,” city administrator Brian Wells said said.
Merrill Yoder, a sales representative with Nisley Brothers Inc., presented options and proposals.
With a 10-year agreement, trash service picking up a supplied 90-gallon container along one side of an alley would cost $14 per residence per month with a second container costing $7.
“Your prices are pretty low,” Yoder said. “It is subsidized by the city now.”
Nisley’s prices likely would increase 2% to 3% every two years, he said.
“It is something we need to consider,” Mayor Mike Powers said. “It is really important.”
Powers asked the rest of the council to ask neighbors their thoughts about privatizing trash service.
“What I would like to suggest is to move on and get public comment on the issue,” Powers said, adding when that when the item was likely to come to a vote, it would be publicized. .
Every city resident is now and would continue to be billed by the city for trash service regardless whether they use the service.
“We need a few months to decide if we need to move forward,” Wells said.
Council members Amy Smith and Zach Collett did not attend the meeting.
At the meeting a state grant to help pay for rhino statues was discussed.
Eighteen businesses have pledged to pay the city’s 60% share of the cost of buying rhinos as part of an attraction development grant.
Megan Jones, economic development director, told the council $60,000 grant, if approved, it would be targeted at increasing the number of rhinos in the community from 72 to 150.
“We have a lot of community support from community members,” she said.
Medium rhino signs will cost $300, with the city’s share being $200, while larger signs are priced at $650, with the county’s share being $400.
Drawing in people on the fringe of Marion, at places like at the county lake, would increase tourism, she said.
“This is a good project that will benefit the community,” Jones said. “I would like to expose the map, where we can tell the stories of rhinos.”
Council member Tim Baxa wondered whether the city could reach the 150 number.
Deadline for the grant is Jan. 7, so the council will take action on endorsing it at its Jan. 5 meeting.
The city also can apply for a 50-50 match for up to $100,000 for repairs in the city’s community room.
Items needed would include bringing hot water into the building, restroom repairs, and new gutters and storm windows.
Jones said the community center could be used as a performing arts center -- a condition for receiving the grant.
The grant would required that the building to be occupied for such purposes within 30 months.
Because there is no hot water and the building is in poor condition, the community center is not available to rent, Wells said.
In other developments, the council agreed to stay with Loyd Group for its audit the city and discussed bids for demolishing 120 W. Santa Fe in the spring.
Hett Excavation was hired for $7,500 to tear down the house, haul rubbish to the transfer station, and remove the foundation and concrete around the house.