1981-11-18 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • 1 CITY OF LA PORTE INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM • T0: Mayor and ity Council DATE: November 18, 1981 FROM: a '~L dge, Director of Public Works SUBJECT: F nt d Load - Commercial Collections Equipment Nearly two (2) years ago, the City purchased a frontloading commercial refuse truck, as a committment to changing the method of commercial refuse collection from the sideload method. Since that time, commercial collections have been made utilizing both the frontloader and sideloader. Also, during this period the cost of operating the sideloader has risen to nearly $750 per month, as compared to $386 for monthly operation and maintenance of the frontloader. Coupled with the high costs of maintenance and operation, the containers used for sideloading operations ar.e in a deteriorated condition. The City has come to a point where a decision must be made concerning the future of our commercial refuse system. Do we maintain our current method of collection and spend nearly $47,000 (cost to overhaul the sideloader and replace containers) or do we totally commit to a frontload system? The following proposal will outline all the aspects of. converting totally to a f.rontl.oading collection system. We have budgeted $25,000 in fiscal year 1981-82, for the purchase of a sufficient number of frontloading containers to replace all existing sideload containers with allowances included for new services. The frontloader, as indicated by the monthly operating costs, is in good condition. Due to it's ease and economy of operation, it will Ue able to absorb the 135 sideloader containers in it's daily routes. There is; however, one (1) obstacle to totally converting to a frontload system. That is the lack of a backup vehicle to continue operations during breakdowns and scheduled maintenance. Currently, we have no backup unit for the frontloader, and a now inoperable backup unit for the sideloader. During a recent three (3) day downtime period of both loaders, commercial collections were made by a five (5) man trash crew. .Attempts to lease or rent vehicles from private haulers and other municipalities was totally without success. It is apparent, that without reserve capabilities during prolonged periods of vehicle downtime, the City would be faced with a potentially dangerous public health problem.