DRIPPING SPRINGS — After using Waste Connections Lone Star for nearly 10 years, the city of Dripping Springs is looking at moving in a new direction when it comes to its trash service provider.
At its May 6 meeting, following executive session, Dripping Springs City Council voted 4-1 to authorize the city administrator to finalize the agreement and begin negotiations with Texas Disposal Services for solid waste collection and disposal services. Council member Taline Manassian dissented, but did not provide a reason for her vote.
In January, the city issued a request for proposal (RFP) for solid waste collection and disposal services. Then, the city received responses from multiple entities March 12: Frontier Waste Solutions, Texas Disposal Services and Waste Connections Lone Star.
“The purpose for the RFP is to select one vendor to provide solid waste services for both solid waste garbage and recycling for residential and commercial properties,” said deputy city administrator Shawn Cox.
The city has used Waste Connections Lone Star as its solid waste provider since 2017, when they acquired Vaquero Waste and Recycling. They were again selected as the provider in 2020, when the city last issued an RFP for solid waste services. The current agreement includes payment of a 7% franchise fee.
According to agenda documents, the city has received the following in solid waste franchise fees:
• FY 2021: $39,745.94
• FY 2022: $45,563.40
• FY 2023: $60,542.02
• FY 2024: $61,203.33
• FY 2025 (year to date): $40,977.90
While there was no discussion on the cost difference between the proposals in open session, council member Geoffrey Tahuahua made the motion to authorize staff to begin negotiations with Texas Disposal System as the “best value bidder.” The decision to choose a new provider comes after residents have sent in numerous complaints about the existing service, the council member explained.
“We've had some discussions around the communication regarding that, as well as the ability for them to fulfill the requirements set forth in the contracts. And I do appreciate the stuff in the [Texas Disposal Services] bid package, especially kind of the unique way that they address sustainability, as well as the customer service, response and installation that they identified,” Tahuahua said. “[I] appreciate some of the continuance stuff that they agreed to in their proposal, in special regards to like bulk pickup … which I think is a valuable thing to our citizens.”
Now, the city will have a contract and franchise fee agreement for council consideration at the May 20 or June 3 city council agenda, stated agenda documents.
Dripping Springs City Council meets next at 6 p.m. May 20. Visit www.drippingsprings-tx.municodemeetings.com for more information on upcoming meetings.
