MONROE - The Monroe Common Council voted unanimously Tuesday to resubmit its proposed contract with the Green County Solid Waste Management Board for reconsideration.
The board had rejected the contract on Thursday on four points. Council president Reid Stangel, who is also a member of the board, said reasons given were the rates to use the county transfer station were too high based on market value, the grinding service may be discontinued, membership fees could not be charged to individual residents, and the contract needs to be acceptable to all transfer station members. Stangel voted in favor of the Monroe contract.
He said he is frustrated with the board because of the number of times Monroe has proposed a contract which have been "flatly resisted." Stangel thinks the board wants to "go back to the old contract," which he said "doesn't make sense to the city."
Members pay more than non-members, he said.
"Whatever we do," Stangel said, "doesn't seem to work for them."
Mayor Bill Ross said the council has sent the board three contracts that have all been rejected.
"If you want to negotiate a contract," he said, "we need to negotiate on both sides."
Ross said the rejections have led the city on a "path to frustration" and questioned why the city has not seen any compromises.
"You have to ask yourself, "why is that?'" he said.
Alderman Michael Boyce said he doesn't think the city should even be involved in the trash collection business. But since it is, he proposed that the city sends its trash straight to the Janesville landfill, at a cost savings.
Boyce said the city should continue to negotiate with the county "in good faith" but at the same time, send the message that the city could use Janesville.
But Stangel said sending trash to Janesville may not be a possibility.
Ross suggested the council should send back the same proposal from May 5 and asked for some compromises or negotiations.
"What are we going to do" if the contract is rejected again? Boyce asked.
Ross refused to speculate, saying the council will discuss what to do.
Boyce made a motion to send all of the city's trash straight to Janesville as soon as practical while negotiations continue. The motion failed for lack of a second.
Alderman Charles Koch motioned to resubmit the proposed contract to the Solid Waste Management Board for reconsideration and counter-proposals so the city can consider. The motion was seconded by Richard Thoman and passed unanimously.
The waste management board will meet again June 11, Stangel said.
The board had rejected the contract on Thursday on four points. Council president Reid Stangel, who is also a member of the board, said reasons given were the rates to use the county transfer station were too high based on market value, the grinding service may be discontinued, membership fees could not be charged to individual residents, and the contract needs to be acceptable to all transfer station members. Stangel voted in favor of the Monroe contract.
He said he is frustrated with the board because of the number of times Monroe has proposed a contract which have been "flatly resisted." Stangel thinks the board wants to "go back to the old contract," which he said "doesn't make sense to the city."
Members pay more than non-members, he said.
"Whatever we do," Stangel said, "doesn't seem to work for them."
Mayor Bill Ross said the council has sent the board three contracts that have all been rejected.
"If you want to negotiate a contract," he said, "we need to negotiate on both sides."
Ross said the rejections have led the city on a "path to frustration" and questioned why the city has not seen any compromises.
"You have to ask yourself, "why is that?'" he said.
Alderman Michael Boyce said he doesn't think the city should even be involved in the trash collection business. But since it is, he proposed that the city sends its trash straight to the Janesville landfill, at a cost savings.
Boyce said the city should continue to negotiate with the county "in good faith" but at the same time, send the message that the city could use Janesville.
But Stangel said sending trash to Janesville may not be a possibility.
Ross suggested the council should send back the same proposal from May 5 and asked for some compromises or negotiations.
"What are we going to do" if the contract is rejected again? Boyce asked.
Ross refused to speculate, saying the council will discuss what to do.
Boyce made a motion to send all of the city's trash straight to Janesville as soon as practical while negotiations continue. The motion failed for lack of a second.
Alderman Charles Koch motioned to resubmit the proposed contract to the Solid Waste Management Board for reconsideration and counter-proposals so the city can consider. The motion was seconded by Richard Thoman and passed unanimously.
The waste management board will meet again June 11, Stangel said.