Orion Waste Solution’s 5 Year Contract Extension Advanced

The vote to move the proposal to full council passed 5-3.

During the public hearing on Orion Waste Solution’s requested five-year contract extension as the garbage/recycling service for the City of Harrison four members of the public spoke to the city council and had mostly positive things to say about Orion.

Steven Franco spoke first and voiced his opposition to simply extending Orion’s contract without opening it up to bid and allow others a competitive chance. He cited the bidding process that took place five years ago which awarded Orion the contract over the previous service, Methvin Sanitation. Franco said the fair thing to do is to allow Methvin a chance to put in a bid on the service before approving another contract with Orion.

In Orion’s contract they have the option to request a five-year extension from the city without a bidding process and the council has the option to approve it or put it out to bid.

Matt Russel, Executive Director the Jack Williams Veterans Resource Center, spoke next and in favor of the extension saying Orion has, “bent over backward to support us.” He cited their help in disposing of batteries and other harmful chemicals that he said they did for free.

Lawton Coontz then spoke in favor the extension and said he was a leading voice in the movement to fire Inland Waste Solutions, which was bought out by Orion Waste Solutions in 2019. He said since the change in ownership he has been very happy with his service and believes they should be awarded another five-year contract. He also pointed out that while Methvin Sanitation would do a great job they might not be the only one that would bid against Orion if the contract was put out to bid. He feared a company outside of the area might bid lower than both Orion and Methvin and bring an inferior service to Harrison.

Finally, Rick Schoenberger spoke in favor of the extension and warned of the possibility for a large raise in price if the service is put out to bid. He asked Councilwoman Mary Jean Creager what the increase in cost for cemetery upkeep was this year. Creager responded the increase was about 30%. That cemetery contract had been in place for 5 years without a rate increase. He feared that with an open bidding process the price for service could go up drastically.

During the committee meeting Councilman Mitch Magness said he has received three to four contacts about this matter, and they were all positive. He along with four other council members voted to move the contract extension to full council with no bidding process. Three other members; Bill Boswell, Joel Williams, and Wayne Cone voted against moving the matter forward. The motion passed five to three in favor, and it will be discussed again at the full December council meeting on December 16^th.