Instead of going out for 2021-22 solid waste service bids, Hennessey’s town board voted last Thursday morning for the mayor and administrator to negotiate “portions” of the contract with the current provider, Waste Connections Inc.

The town recently paid $19,062 a month for bulk waste services, Town Administrator Tiffany Tillman said during the special meeting.

The five-year contract with the company expires June 30 and is based on the amount of waste collected instead of the number of households and businesses served.

It also calls for a 3 percent yearly increase.

Both the town and Waste Connections now want to base the cost on homes and businesses.

Waste Connections also wants to limit home service to once a week instead of two times a week.

Services outside the town limits (Miller Heights, etc.) have only once-a-week pickups.

Board members said in an earlier meeting that customers were loud and clear that they want twice-a-week service when they were surveyed last fall.

That was after Waste Connections’ proposed once-a-week service, $6 for an added polycart, but added once-a-month curbside pickup of “bulky waste” (mattresses, household appliances, carpets, etc.).

It appeared Thursday morning that Waste Connections would not offer twice-a-week home service.

“This is the only town we cover that we are paid by the lump sum, the only one that we give home service twice a week and we’re losing money,” said Kyle Cornell, district manager for Waste Connections at the Red Carpet Landfill-B&B Sanitation in Meno.

Waste Connections’ Territory Manager Brittany LeMoine agreed the company isn’t breaking even.

Trustee Richard Simunek said it wasn’t a problem for him to have only once-a-week service, but it would probably be a problem for families in his neighborhood.

Tillman said there are only two other companies that offer waste services in the area.

Before the board decided to have Mayor Bert Gritz and Tillman negotiate with the Waste Connections, the board rescinded its Thursday, May 13, motion to advertise for bids.

Before that vote, Trustee Harold Shaw said he believed “it’s the board’s job to get the best deal for the people in Hennessey.”

Gritz agreed and said a Waste Connections’ competitor apparently made copies of Waste Connections bid at the earlier meeting.

“They could undercut their bid and that wouldn’t be fair,” said Gritz.

All the other company had to do was bid $1 under the Waste Connections bid, said Vice Mayor Clif Vogt.

The KT&FP reporter said the board is required to accept the lowest and best bid and a bidder’s previous service could be a reason to consider it the best bid.

Clerk Kati Walters said she saw the other representative making copies of board packet information at that meeting.

That packet was intended for the media. Jack Quirk was late getting to the meeting and didn’t get his packet until later.

“That information became public record as soon as it hit the board table,” said the KT&FP reporter.

“I know,” said Gritz, “but he could have made a request for the information. I think the way he did it was under-handed.”

Gritz and Tillman are tentatively scheduled to meet with Waste Connections May 25.

In other action, Gritz asked for suggestions of who the board should appoint as deputy clerk.

Trustee Keith Meek said he’s already deputy treasurer.

Gritz told Tillman that she’s the only one there who isn’t an elected official, then asked her to take the job. She agreed and was unanimously approved for that job.

Tillman resigned as town clerk (an elective position) due to “added responsibilities and duties.”

She served as town clerk for 14 years and is in her 15th year as administrator.