Local Business Groups Oppose Proposition A

Three local business organizations have announced opposition to Proposition A on the April 5^th ballot in Jefferson City. 

Proposition A purports to amend Jefferson City’s citywide trash/recycling contract by allowing residents to dispose of their trash however they choose, but Randy Allen of the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce says passage of the proposal would be a step backward for the community and hurt the local economy: “Now we’ve brought Jefferson City into the 21^st century so I think it’s a really big deal for young people and it’s a really big deal for a progressive community.”

Eric Schulte of the Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors acknowledges that the trash/recycling program could be improved upon but says voiding the program by passing Proposition A is not the way to do it.  “By cancelling this contract it is just going to cost everyone more money. There is not much, if any, gain that can possibly come from cancelling this contract.”

Civic Progress, a group representing Jefferson City largest employers, also has announced its opposition to Proposition A and contributed funds to help Citizens for Responsible Progress campaign against it.

Jenny Smith of Citizens for Responsible Progress says her group appreciates the support of the three business groups. “These are serious-minded individuals who want what is best for our community and its future.  They understand that Proposition A is not simply a matter of how we get rid of our garbage, but also how we can grow into a progressive and prosperous community.”

Letter to News Tribune - March 29, 2011

Dear Editor:

Why pay more for trash service? That’s what proponents of Proposition A are really asking us to do.

I thank our City Council for giving us a responsible, affordable, efficient citywide trash service.  They listened to the citizens when we said we wanted a new program that included curbside recycling.  They tested it in a trial program and, when they were satisfied that it worked, they approved the current contract. Citywide trash service is important to the safety and well-being of the citizens of Jefferson City in the same ways that fire and police protection, clean water and sewer service are.  We all pay for those services, why not trash removal?

But let’s not pay more than we need to.

Proponents of Prop. A clamor for “choice” in their trash service.  They had that choice under the previous system and 1,000 tons of trash went missing in 2009.  Well, not missing exactly, but dumped into creeks, wooded areas, in city parks or parking lots, or left in basements or back porches.

Before moving to Jefferson City four years ago I had a choice in my selection of trash providers.  The two competitors provided the same exact service for same exact fee, which was more than I pay now, and I had one pick up each week and no recycling. So much for competition.  If Prop A. passes, we will pay more for less service. Our rates are below the state average and well below our neighbors in Cole and Callaway Counties.  Let’s keep it that way.

We are also likely to lose curbside recycling.  Recycling is important in keeping our  costs down, because Jefferson City is now recycling about 25% of our solid waste, extending the life of our landfill.  Let’s not pay more because more of our trash is going into the landfill instead of being recycled.  That’s what will happen if Prop A. passes.

Passage of Proposition A is also likely to result in the use of our tax money to pay for the city’s breach of our contract with Allied.  That means either higher taxes or a reduction in other services to pay for those costs.

Let’s make sure the money we pay Allied is for trash service, not because we passed Prop. A.

Kenneth Luebbering

Why Vote No?

Jefferson City Area Board of REALTORS® Endorses “No on Proposition A”

The Board of Directors of the Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors voted at their regular monthly meeting on March 16 to endorse "No on Proposition A" which will appear on the April 5th ballot.  While the Board acknowledges there may be room for improvement to make this service more palatable for all, they are concerned that a "yes" vote could find the City of Jefferson in breach of contract and subject to costly litigation.

Mayor Landwehr Backs the Blues Brothers

Mayor John Landwehr got down with the Blues Brothers Thursday night.  No, not those Blues Brothers.  Mayor Landwehr minced no words at a public forum in support of our twin blue trash/recycling carts (known in some circles as the “Blues Brothers”). The Mayor told the crowd that Proposition A on the April 5th ballot is the most important issue to go before voters in the last 16 years, and its passage would mean that we'd all be "singing the blues" with higher monthly rates (as much as an additional $10/month), the end of curbside recycling, and lawsuits against the City for breach of contract costing hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars.

What did supporters of Proposition A say?  Not much.  Not much at all.  They didn't really dispute the mayor's warnings, but said they oppose the Blues Brothers on "principle".

It is not the first time that the Blues Brother have been misunderstood, but remember that Jake and Elwood were on a "mission from God".  Join Mayor Landwehr and stand tall with the Blues Brothers for our future!

And Another Supporter...Vote No for Prop A on April 5!

Council Members, thank you for letting me speak today.

I am opposed to Proposition A.  According to the proponents of this Proposition, a “Yes” vote would give Jefferson City residents more choice when it comes to their trash service.  Well, for me, and for most of the residents of our city, the current trash and recycling service is our choice.

I personally worked since 2007 both as a regular citizen and as a member of the Environmental Quality Commission to find a plan that would provide the most convenience, the lowest cost and the best service to the people of the city.  After two years of research, focus groups, a pilot project, surveys, and market evaluation, we were confident that we found the best service for the most people.  That was why I, along with the majority of Jefferson City residents, urged our council members in 2009 to pass approval for the current service.  It was our choice.

Did it make everyone happy?  No.

Unfortunately, the bag customers experienced the biggest change because of an evolving industry that no longer picked up bags.  But the plan has worked for most of us.  And it added curbside recycling, prolonging our landfill.

This service is still our choice.  But the proponents of Prop A want to take our choice away.  They want to take us back to where we started.  They say the Proposition will still mandate everyone to throw away their trash.  Well, it’s always been a mandate to dispose of your trash, even before the current ordinance.  But people have interpreted that mandate differently.  For some people, it meant taking their trash to the landfill on their own – a responsible choice to be sure.  But doing so currently costs a minimum of $30 to $35 per load for household waste, double the monthly rate for house pick-up.  Others interpreted that “mandate” to mean hiding trash in their basement, stuffing it underneath their porch, dumping it in the woods, sticking it in a local business dumpster in the middle of the night, burning it, or (and this was the most creative example that I learned of) dropping it in public picnic area bins on the way to Columbia.

I say no thank you.  We have our choice in place right now.  Please don’t take us back to the way it was.  I sincerely ask Jefferson City residents to vote for the next generation; vote for a cleaner community; vote to keep your choice.

Don’t throw a good thing away, please vote NO on Prop A!

E.H.

Another Statement of Support at City Council Meeting, Monday, March 21st

Good evening. My name is Jenny Smith. I live at 1211 Elmerine.

I am here tonight to comment on how much we like the current city wide trash service. We used to pay $15/mo for trash bin service. We piled our recyclables up in the basement and then made a trip every month to the recycling bins. Now we pay $15.75/mo and get trash and recycling. Now, because it is easier, much more of our trash goes into recycling.  In Jeff city as a whole, recycling has increased 7 fold over the previous plan. This is very gratifying and shows that this program is serving our community and our environment very well.

Jeff city is getting a very good deal that is the envy of our neighboring communities. Our city government has served us well. County residents pay up to $25/mo and don’t get the recycling service. I pay for trash pick-up at a family home at Osage Beach and pay $30/mo, also without recycling service. If you create trash, even a little bit, I challenge you find a better deal than what we have now.

If Prop A passes Jeff city residents will almost certainly be paying much more and getting less. Even if you decide to share with your neighbor and you split the cost that could go up to $25, you are saving only about $3 and you don’t have curbside recycling. Free-loaders would go back to using the large bins of businesses and apartment complexes, or dumping trash in their backyards. Some irresponsible renters would go back to leaving all their trash in the basement, moving out and leaving the mess for their landlords. But the freeloaders won’t be able to just save all your trash on the back porch and wait for spring clean-up, because there won’t be one. Prop A would drag us backwards.

The city was able to negotiate a low rate for city residents because of the volume discount. If the trash truck has to go down your street to get your neighbor’s trash, it costs them only a little more to pick up yours.  But if they go down your street for only one resident, it is not cost effective and their costs go up. They cannot offer individuals the same rate as a group. So if we have free choice here and get to choose our own trash hauler, then our rates will go up.

As part of living in a society it is in everyone’s interest that everybody takes care of their own trash.  It is a basic health, safety and sanitation issue. I want all my neighbors to have trash pick-up also, so that all trash around me is properly and responsibly disposed of. That is why it is in everyone’s best interest that the service be mandatory.

I want trash pickup, I want curbside recycling and I want the best price possible.  If the city government has negotiated a better deal than I could by myself than I want to say to the city, THANK YOU. If this is government interference, then I like it. 

I will be voting NO on Prop A.