Monday night, the Blytheville City Council's Health and Sanitation Committee voted to redo the bidding process for new garbage trucks.
Mayor James Sanders requested the move after one company apparently threatened to sue, contending it didn't know the city solicited bids for the trucks six months ago.
Councilwoman Missy Langston, who chairs the committee, told the board that the city took all the proper steps during last September's bidding process.
Sanders also cautioned the committee about allowing one of the two original bidders, River City Hydraulics, to make a presentation Monday night because other companies might feel they didn't get an equal shot at the city's business, if the Council chooses River City.
"It's my suggestion that what we do right now, so that we don't taint anything at all, is we go ahead and run this in the newspaper and follow those guidelines (for soliciting bids)," Sanders said. "And then, when we get the bid specs in, then allow, if there is someone you want to find additional information from, ask that person to come back."
River City's Jamie McCoy, who drove to Blytheville Monday night from Forrest City, seemed to understand Sanders' position.
"I'll be happy to come back whenever you're ready, no problem at all," McCoy said.
Langston said the city will use the same specs as the last go-round when seeking bids for three new garbage trucks.
She anticipates they will cost about $150,000 each.
Sanders said the bid process will be open for two weeks and at the end of it, the city will open the sealed bids in front of any company representatives wishing to be there.
He said the Council doesn't have to make a decision that day, though the companies have a right to know what others bid.
The mayor added the Council can accept whichever bid it wants, even if it isn't the lowest bid.
"Sometimes you may get a truck or a vehicle that may be a little bit over the price of what another company might (offer) when you see the actual number, but they offer you other things in the package," Sanders said.
Langston indicated one of the components of particular interest is the financing options.
Councilman Tommy Abbott suggested leaving the finance portion of the bid open and the city can choose the best fit.
Langston noted the two companies that bid on the garbage trucks last year had similar cost, but differed on the financing options.
Council members seemed to be looking for a company willing to buy back the trucks after about two years.
Sanders noted the bid can ask for a specific buy back amount.
As it is looking to purchase new garbage trucks, the city is renegotiating the current contract with Knight's Disposal Service Inc. -- talks that have been ongoing for the last several months.
Currently, the city picks up the residential and commercial garbage, takes it to the transfer station, and Knight's carries it from there to the county landfill in Luxora.
If the proposal is approved, the city would take the residential garbage to the landfill itself and eliminate the estimated $605,452 it pays Knight's yearly for the service.
According to the proposed contract, Knight's would then have exclusive rights to independently pick up, transport and dispose of commercial garbage within the city. The company would be responsible to bill each merchant directly and collect those fees as well as pay the landfill tipping fees for commercial garbage, the proposed two-year agreement says. According to the City Collector's report, in 2012, the city collected $617,114.36 for commercial sanitation.
"We hope for the best and we hope to come up with an agreement that will be beneficial for both sides," Langston said. "But in the meantime, we still pick up our own garbage and we pick up our own trash and we take it to a transfer site. Just the process of driving the zones every day and picking up the garbage with our current garbage trucks is questionable daily because they breakdown almost weekly."
She said Public Works is replacing major parts on the trucks and dealing with hydraulic fluid leaks.
Langston said the city needs new garbage trucks, whether or not it alters the current contract with Knight's.
"It's like at your house, how long are you going to drive that vehicle and keep replacing stuff until you decide to get a new one and make a payment," she said.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com