City admin: New management taking proactive approach

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

The city of Cassville has extended its contract with Ecowaste Solutions (formerly CARDS) for supplying trash and recycling services, citing improvements in communication and resolving issues as a reason for the extension.

Jon Horner, Cassville mayor, said if the city was to seek bids for trash service, it would have to do so in August or September.

“The recommendation was that Ecowaste Solutions has worked to be a good partner and has been addressing issues that come up,” he said. “This is a one-year renewal or extension of the contract, and we will reevaluate next year if it is in the best interest of the residents to put the service out for bid.”

CARDS, based in northwest Arkansas, won the city’s contract in 2023 and began service in January 20204, taking over from Waste Management, based in Springfield.

Richard Asbill, Cassville city administrator, said the early years of service presented challenges not uncommon to switching companies, and the city was receiving numerous complaints about lack of service or missed recycling pickups.

“We have worked with Ecowaste Solutions management to address those, and they’ve recently made several management changes, so now e have a group of representatives we work well with,” he said. “They are responsive to our questions and issues, and they have a certain number of days to get those corrected. They have been very responsive in the last 18-20 months compared to the first 18-20 months.”

Asbill said initially, the city would not learn of issues like a broken down truck or driver availability until the day after pickup, leading to multiple complaints.

“We now have regular meetings and discuss status and progress, and we have a more consistent driver base we are able to work with,” he said. “Their facilitator is good about calling or texting when issues happen, and good communication can solve challenges.”

Asbill said one tool that has proved useful is cameras on trucks, allowing Ecowaste Solutions to send timestamped photos correlating to pickup complaints.

“Ecowaste Solutions has also said they want to do even better, so we believe they value our business and relationship, and they are receptive to our needs,” Asbill said.

The initial three-year contract allows for the city to extend three more years, and the City Council elected to take those extension on a year-by-year basis.

“I appreciate the mayor and council choosing to go one year at a time, because that puts us in a good position if service dips to make a change,” Asbill said. “The pricing in the market is not unreasonable — it’s right there — and we could put it to bid, but that may mean increases could lead us to paying more in year two of a new contract than what we are paying now.”

Asbill said rates will stay the same through Jan. 1, 2027, when Ecowaste Solutions will have the opportunity to request a rate increase of up to 5%, a cap set in the contract.

“Bidding it out could increase that cap,” Asbill said. “The city is very aware trash service is a major part of city operations and people’s lives, and it is not always perfect, but we are in a better place than we were two years ago and will continue to make improvements. And, if not, we can re-bid for other services.”