The City of Platte City hosted a special session regarding its trash service Tuesday evening.
The meeting was held Tuesday, Sept. 30 at city hall and included a portion for public comment, with speakers limited to three minutes. Members of the board of aldermen and city staff did not plan to engage in discussion with the public during the session.
See next week’s edition of the Citizen for a report on the special session.
Earlier this year, frustration over over Platte City’s current trash and recycling service has escalated, leading to several public meetings over the past few months.
City officials confirmed this summer that they are still evaluating whether to continue in-house trash collection or contract it to an outside service like RedGate Disposal, which has offered a bid at a lower price than the current city rate.
City staff have tested new equipment, including a side-loader trash truck that was ultimately deemed incompatible with about 60% of city streets due to space constraints. A rear-loader model will be tested next. A new truck could cost the city around $260,000, and officials confirmed they’ve explored truck rental options as a backup plan.
If trash collection is outsourced, one city staff position may be eliminated, though officials emphasized that remaining employees have other responsibilities within the city.
Recycling services have been strained for some time, with the city reporting on Sept. 11 that its recycling truck experienced a hydraulic leak and would be out of commission for several more weeks. The trash truck has been filling in for the ailing recycling truck.
HOLIDAY LIGHTING
At a recent meeting of the Platte City Board of Aldermen, the city entered into an agreement with the Platte City Area Chamber of Commerce to continue the 20-year tradition of holiday lights on Main Street buildings.
According to the staff report, Bill Collins, who has overseen installation of the lights for many years, now has difficulty with the work due to his age and health. The Platte City Chamber has agreed to take over the project.
The current lights are old and outdated. The Chamber of Commerce is seeking contributions to replace them. The estimated cost for the entire project is $16,000. The resolution authorizes a contribution of $8,000. The remaining $8,000 in funds will need to be raised from other community partners. The resolution also specifies that the contribution is contingent upon the Chamber of Commerce securing funding for the entire project.
The city received a petition of Main Street business owners seeking continuation of the tradition and the Downtown Platte City Association also placed its support with the project.
“The holiday lights represent far more than decoration; they are a symbol of our city’s identity and hospitality,” said Downtown Platte City President Laura Lowry. “Their renewal will guarantee that generations to come can continue to enjoy the beauty, warmth, and sense of belonging they bring to Platte City each year.”
Platte City Friends of the Arts, Platte County Senior Services and more also voiced support for the holiday lighting project.