In another vote of 3-2, the Sebastian City Council has decided to go with the ‘Universal’ (mandatory) option with Waste Management for trash pickup. The monthly cost is about $19.45 and will be billed annually through the homeowner’s tax bill.
The City of Sebastian will have public hearings about the process before January 2024.
Under the Universal option, every homeowner will get a once-per-week trash pickup in Sebastian. Recycling will remain the same as it’s by the county.
The earlier vote in March was recalled by Councilman Ed Dodd when he obtained information that the city would be on the hook from July 2023 to October 2024 for billing and at a higher monthly rate. That’s because the billing can’t be on the tax bills until next year.
City officials have worked with Waste Management to resolve the issues. Dodd said the trash collection company has cooperated throughout the process.
Only three trash companies, including Waste Management, responded to the city’s bid for trash pickup. City Councilman Chris Nunn said the other two wanted more information, even though the city had already provided it in the bid details.
The city hosted two workshops in early March about the garbage pickup with Waste Management.
Should Sebastian be in the trash collection business?
Nathan McCollum, who served on the city council years ago, said the City of Sebastian should consider handling its own garbage collection as the City of Vero Beach does, which City Council Bob McPartlan backed.
Vero Beach has a utility system for trash collection and don’t handle recycling. In addition, they bill customers on a utility bill for services like water and not on the tax bill. They also have a Universal approach, billing each customer at $16.45 monthly for two weekly pickups. Taxes in Vero Beach are generally higher.
Under the current contract with Waste Management, it’s $19.45 for one weekly pickup.
Not long ago, McPartlan said the city should stay out of the real estate business, and many citizens agreed and added the local government should also stay out of the private sector. But, if the price is right, McPartlan is suggesting that we go into the trash collection business.
Some skeptics argue that it looks good on paper, but it puts taxpayers at risk should something not go as planned. Sebastian citizens have enjoyed lower taxes than most municipalities of its size because of subcontracting and allowing the private sector to compete.
Also, taxpayers would be responsible for buying all the new trucks and garbage bins, paying employees and benefits, billing, maintenance, and other expenses for running such a large operation. The costs could easily exceed $6 million to begin such an endeavor.
