Bradenton Beach commissioners — hoping to waste not on truck repairs — unanimously approved an agreement hiring WastePro of Florida as the city’s trash-hauler.
WastePro already has a contract with the city to remove recyclables.
The commission voted unanimously for the first reading of an ordinance on a franchise agreement with WastePro to take over trash and yard-waste collection, a service currently handled by the Bradenton Beach public works department.
The ordinance awards WastePro the franchise for solid-waste collection in exchange for fees to the city — 12 percent of the company’s gross revenue under the franchise, less adjustments for uncollectible accounts.
WastePro’s rates are $112.08 a year for residential garbage collection and $43.56 a year for yard waste collection.
The franchise agreement ends in 2016, with a five-year renewal provision.
WastePro will collect trash at least twice a week and yard waste at least once a week from residences. Hours of operation are from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. On holidays, service is pushed back by a day throughout the week.
Trash-generators can expect WastePro to begin collecting solid waste in September.
The start date was the one issue that remained unresolved going into last week’s meeting.
Prior to the meeting, commissioners had asked city attorney Ricinda Perry and the city clerk’s office to calculate how much it would cost the sanitation department to complete collection in 2011 and how much it would cost for the city to hire WastePro for September through December.
The balance sheet indicated it would cost the city about $59,000 to finish the year with the sanitation department collecting solid waste. Hiring WastePro for the job will cost about $95,000.
While city collection appeared less costly, a concern for the mayor and commissioners was whether the city’s garbage trucks would hold out until the end of the year. They were eager to have WastePro start work in the fall.
A second and final reading of the ordinance was scheduled for 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 4.
The commission also voted to sell WastePro the city’s recycling truck for $12,000.
In other business, the commission:
• Approved payment of a $7,178 invoice from Perry for legal services in May.
• Approved 4-1 payment of a $5,562 invoice from M.T. Causley for building official services. Commissioner Gay Breuler voted no based on her objections to overtime for the building official.
• Approved the first reading of a revised sign ordinance and set a second and final reading for 7 p.m. Aug. 4.
• Continued the first reading of an ordinance regulating newsracks until 7 p.m. Aug. 4, after the planning and zoning board reviews and makes recommendations on the proposal.
• Did not act on a citizen proposal for the semi-annual treatment of a ficus tree near the Annie Silver Community Center at 23rd Street and Avenue C.
Horticulturist Vernie Pickhardt, in a memo, informed commissioners that the tree is infested with white fly, which can be lethal. Pickhardt recommended treating the tree and soil with insecticide twice a year at a cost of about $900.
But Bartelt said ficus trees no longer can be planted in the city, because they are exotics that pose threats to sewer and water systems. He objected to the city spending money “ad infinitum” to treat the ficus.
Commissioners agreed not to act on the matter last week, but acknowledged the city eventually may have to take some action.
• Approved payment of a $2,400 invoice from ZNS Engineering for planning services.