T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY A Moler Sanitation trash receptacle is shown outside of the T-R office recently. On Monday night, the Marshalltown City Council further discussed the findings of the solid waste study completed last year, and City Administrator Carol Webb vowed to work on an ordinance requiring all residents to either contract their garbage service or self-haul their waste to an appropriate destination.

During Monday night’s meeting, the Marshalltown city council returned to the familiar topic of the solid waste study that was completed last year as City Administrator Carol Webb sought guidance on a pair items — the possibility of a consolidated pickup schedule and whether or not all residents should be required to have some form of garbage service.

The city operates under an open market system allowing residents and businesses to choose from one of four authorized private haulers, and Webb asked if the council wished to explore the consolidated pickup system, which would require moving away from the open market system toward a closed market system. She said city staff reached out to two solid waste consulting firms and heard back from one that a change toward a consolidated pickup schedule would not be possible in the open market system.

Councilor Greg Nichols, attending the meeting remotely, said he would not favor a consolidated pickup schedule due to opposition within the community at large and a lack of benefit from the city’s perspective. Fellow Councilor Sue Cahill agreed and added that she would not be in favor of a requirement either as she feels the current system works.

“I have to admit, when I sat in (a prior meeting), I thought we spent way too much time, not even into the time prior to that, dealing with garbage and maybe having someone’s can out on their driveway for more than one day. My solution would be, as a good neighbor, you should go over and take their can up to their garage door or to their sidewalk,” she said. “Maybe they have an issue and they can’t get it, can’t haul it, and they’d love to have your help rather than just complaining that cans are out on the curb.”

Councilor Mark Mitchell expressed concern about allowing residents to take their trash to the city dump as many property owners already throw theirs on a flatbed or put it in their backyard and leave it for months. While acknowledging that he likely held a minority opinion, Councilor Marco Yepez-Gomez said he wasn’t sure why the consolidated system idea was so unpopular, citing the example of his sister who lives in Newton, where the city charges $15 a month with three 13 gallon bags provided and $2 per bag for any additional bags.

Yepez-Gomez noted that he has spoken with Marshalltown residents, and none of their monthly or bimonthly costs came in as low as Newton — some bills were as high as $80, he said.

“I think this is just a question (of) if we save Marshalltown residents money, so I’m not sure why it’s so unpopular,” he said.

Councilor Jeff Schneider suggested a consolidated pickup schedule for curbside collection, and it was noted that Moler Sanitation is the only hauler with an automated truck requiring curbside pickup, though Prairie Waste offers curbside as an option. Webb sensed that the consensus was against implementing a consolidated pickup schedule and then asked about code language on a garbage service requirement, which is currently “sort of implied” but not explicit.

According to Webb, the council could add a hauler reporting requirement for keeping customer lists allowing the city to check on whether a particular address was a customer of theirs.

“But if people are allowed to self-haul, that’s somewhat moot, I guess,” she said.

Cahill and Nichols agreed with the idea of language requiring residents to either contract their service through one of the licensed companies or self-haul. Schneider added that he was generally in favor but wondered how it would be enforced for those who self-haul, and Webb replied that it would likely be based on complaints sent to the city.

Mitchell asked for input from Assistant Housing and Community Development Director Clayton Ender, who has been leading code and nuisance enforcement efforts.

“His crew is strapped right now,” he said.

Ender then stepped forward and said some sort of a requirement with a specified time frame on how often trash must be disposed would be helpful in terms of nuisance enforcement. Schneider asked if proof of disposal through a receipt could be written into the code, and Webb pledged to bring back an ordinance on that provision. During the public comment period, Layne Pieri said several people in town just look for a dumpster, citing the prohibitive cost and suggesting a consolidated pickup schedule despite its unpopularity.

“I don’t blame people for trying to save money. I really don’t, but at some point, we have to have a system that works for everybody. It doesn’t help our community when we’re trying to make somebody else pay for our trash pickup,” Pieri said. “I understand times are hard, but also like Councilman Yepez-Gomez said, it’s not that expensive when everyone’s paying into it.”

Joleen Ballard said in her neighborhood, Moler picks up trash on Mondays, and she doesn’t see any cans left out on Tuesdays. Doris Kinnick expressed that she likes capitalism and free choice, and she couldn’t believe the discussion had gone on for as long as it had.

“I think it’s kind of funny that people actually think that one solid rate is gonna be perfect for everybody. That’s not the free market system,” she said.

Tim Bradbury also shared his support for the free market system but asked if flexibility could be allowed for customers who don’t produce that much garbage. He reiterated concerns about new automated trucks allowing trash to spread out on roads and suggested going back to “the old-fashioned way.”

Ray Mitchem offered praise for his garbage hauler, Area Sanitation, and the current open market system.

“They will do anything for you to make your garbage pickup easier, and I just can’t imagine anybody that has been more cooperative than our garbage hauler, Area Sanitation, and they’ve been that way for years, and it’s just nice that they come right up to your door,” he said.

Yepez-Gomez responded to some of the public comments and joked that no one thinks of Newton as “Communist China,” reiterating his point on saving residents money. Tom Kurth cited his own family history in the garbage business and advised the council against making any changes.

“The wheel is greased. Leave it alone,” he said.

Jim Palmer liked the idea of quadrant collection schedules but echoed other commenters’ remarks on the importance of choice and wariness of government getting into the trash business. He also felt the $80 charge was likely for a commercial site as opposed to residential.

Tom Deimerly asked what a consolidated model would mean for customers, and Webb said the open market system generally comes at a higher cost than a municipal or closed market system. The discussion then ended without any formal motion being made.