Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council last week agreed to award it trash and recycling franchise contract to ACES Waste Service, keeping the contract local with better rates for customers. Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe reported on the city solid waste franchise agreement, which included issues with the work of existing franchisee, Amador Disposal Service, whose contact expires June 30. Guy Davis of Amador Disposal said all of the issue had been addressed. Issues included trucks leaking oil on city streets, late franchise payments, reports inadequate for the existing franchise agreement, and “various customer service complaints.” Rabe’s said a new truck was brought to work in the city, eliminating oil leaks, and a new manager resolved the issues of on-time franchise payments, adequate reporting and customer service. Paul Molinelli Senior, owner of ACES Waste Service of Pine Grove, also attended and spoke to the council. Amador Disposal offered quarterly neighborhood clean-up dumpsters, while Molinelli said ACES could do that once a year. Amador Disposal offered “no price increase for 3 years,” Davis said, and Councilman Tim Murphy said that was a good offer, but the council voted 5-0 to work on a franchise contract with ACES. ACES under-bid Amador Disposal in all rates of service, including for residential waste cans of 35, 64 and 96 gallons; and commercial bins of 1 and 2 cubic yards. Mayor Gary Wooten asked if ACES would match Amador Disposal’s offer to share 50 percent of profits from the sale of recyclables. Molinelli said he would also offer that, with stipulations “yet to be determined.” He said he would meet with the city, and it would also depend on the recycling market value, “which went to zero and is now coming back.” Molinelli said as far as rate increases, he would discuss any increase with the city and would “employ a rate-making methodology” that would “give transparency in all rates and prevent large rate increases.” He said it would look at indexes, such as fuel and other costs, to justify increases. Murphy asked if ACES could offer a 10 percent discount for senior citizens, “at the discretion of the city council,” noting that such a discount was not legal for wastewater rates. City Attorney Dennis Crabb said the sewer was a public utility and not discountable for senior citizens, but garbage and recycling could be discounted because they were franchise agreements. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.