When the Fulton landfill closes on April 29, the city's trash will have a new destination: Jefferson City.
The Fulton City Council passed a resolution Tuesday night for Mayor Charles Latham to sign a waste services disposal agreement with Allied Waste to start dumping Fulton's trash at Allied's Jefferson City Landfill Authority.
The five-year contract, which goes into effect on May 2, allows the city to dump its solid waste at a rate of $27.50 per ton.
Director of Administration Bill Johnson said Thursday that other than a new destination for their trash, the Allied Waste agreement should have no direct impact on Fulton residents.
"We don't believe the customers will see any difference besides they no longer have a local landfill for their trash," Johnson said. "Collection days are going to stay the same, recycling is going to stay the same, we calculated several times and rates shouldn't change.
"The customer should basically see no difference."
He said administration recommended Allied over the other bid - from the City of Columbia - because it came in the lower of the two.
"We actually took full loads of waste to both landfills while in the midst of evaluating, and it wasn't really shorter or quicker one way or the other, so it really boiled down to money," Johnson said. "Allied also threw in some extra services."
Those additional optional services include storing and changing flat tires on City of Fulton trucks (the fully mounted tires and wheels would be supplied to the Jefferson City Landfill Shop by Fulton), and minor mechanical repairs to Fulton equipment if it experiences problems while in Jefferson City (the city would be contacted regarding the nature of the problem, needed repair and estimated cost of repair before any work being done). Allied also will provide technical assistance and help to the City of Fulton in the closure of its landfill.
Rick Graham, manager of Allied's Jefferson City landfill, was present during Tuesday night's council meeting to answer any questions the members might have.
Ward 3 Councilman John Pautz asked whether Allied would arrange some sort of drop-off site in Fulton, or if the city would be responsible for that.
"It would be up to the city to work out any sort of drop off site; there was nothing in the RFP about that," Graham responded.
Johnson said there are no plans to do a drop-off site at this time.
Graham thanked the city several times for awarding the contract to Allied Waste.
"We want to be a preferred vendor," Graham said. "We're looking forward to a good relationship and we appreciate the opportunity."