Citizens convince commissioners to bid out trash contract | News

Hillsborough County, FL -- Talking about trash pick-up may not be sexy but it is one of the biggest services the county provides to homeowners. At stake is the enormous contract, approaching $500 million to pick that trash up. The sticking point was the contract hasn't been negotiated in 17 years. That all changed today.  

Commissioners have been lobbied long and hard on this issue and the Commission Chambers were packed with residents looking for change. The company with the contract, Trash Haulers, promised to cut rates if the contract wasn't put up for competitive bid, but it did not go over well with the majority who spoke.

"If he is willing to do that with a re-negotiation, what do you think he would do with a bid? I wanted to smack the guy." said Beth Overvoch, a Hillsborough resident at the meeting.

"Many of you received money for your campaign from these companies for your campaign. But I'd like for you to know, that we vote, and money don't," said Michelle Patty, a Hillsborough homeowner.  "We need to open it up for bid and you need to know we as taxpayer, we elected you to look out for our interest and not yours."

Commissioners listened to the voters and will put it up for bid with a 7-0 vote.

Chairman Ken Hagan bristled at the suggestion he was leaning toward extending the contract because of campaign contributions.  He told the crowd the Trash Haulers account for only 1 percent of his contributions.

"I hope for the rest of the day and moving forward this asinine claim can be put aside, because nothing further can be the truth," said a visibly upset Hagan.

Clearly, the citizens who spoke convinced the commissioners that if the contract wasn't put up for competitive bid, come election day, it could be the elected officials who would be thrown out with the trash.

"I think it was the hundreds of people that showed up and the hundreds of e-mails that came in and the commission realized citizens are watching," said Commissioner Al Higginbotham.  

The current companies who have the contract might end up with it again, but knowing they are competing with others means its appears likely the services will be less expensive and that is a big win for taxpayers.