CitySSMCity Council decided to move forward on Monday night with a new provider for garbage and recycling collection.  Municipal Waste will start its new role as of January 1st for a five year period.  There was some concern over the replacement of GFL — Green For Life — after ten years of providing that service.  Some councillors questioned whether a Request For Proposals process should have been performed rather than the issue going to tender.  Ward 3 councillor Judy Hupponen asked about what was the deciding factor in going with Municipal Waste.  It was announced that a small difference in the cost for each pickup — 2 dollars and 31 cents — that was the reason for choosing a new provider.  A question was asked by Ward 4 councillor Ross Romano — if there was a way to defer the matter to allow for Green For Life to be included in the situation that was up for tender.  Other councillors commented that GFL had been doing an exceptional job for the last decade while it was also known for its service in the community, resulting in happy customers.  City Solicitor Nuala Kenny strongly advised against such an idea.  Public Works Commissioner Larry Girardi agreed, saying that Municipal Waste supplied an adequate equipment list and that the city was in no position to say that they could not complete requirements of their contract.  Ward 1 councillor Paul Christian did suggest that the RFP process is something that the city needs to do in other areas, supporting local business when it can.  Ward 2 councillor Susan Myers feels that when the five year contract is up, a Request For Proposal process may be the better option for selecting a service provider in this case.

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The issue of the Algoma Farmers’ Market was also discussed at Monday’s City Council meeting.  The discussion attempted to clear up any rumours about the market being shut down by the city.  It was announced that the costs to operate the market amounted to a little over 10 thousand dollars — most of that being the replacement of a tarp next year.  Sault Mayor Christian Provenzano likened the situation to the one involving the Pointe des Chenes/Lion’s Club campground.  The mayor went on to say that if council is going to negotiate or enter into any lease, all options must be known to council.  A report with options regarding a new contract for the Farmers’ Market will be presented to council at a later date.

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After the collection of millions of dollars from PUC customers, a lower sewer surcharge may be on the way.  It was accepted at Monday’s City Council meeting that a report will be received be council on options on how to reduce that surcharge on the PUC bill.  The sewer surcharge is the only component of the bill that the city can change.  This as mayor Christian Provenzano commented that there is more than 30 million dollars of work to be done — about the same amount collected  as of last January 1st from the sewer surcharge since 2002.  If it moves forward, the reduced surcharge would take effect this January 1st.