Shakopee Council Gives $5 Million Garbage Contract to New Firm

After 12 years with the family-owned waste hauler Dick's Sanitation, the Shakopee City Council voted 4-1 on Tuesday to award a new five-year, $5.3 million garbage contract to Allied Waste Services.

Allied's bid came in at 7 percent less than Dick's, saving taxpayers $400,000, according to the Shakopee Valley News.

Steve Clay, the council member who voted against awarding the contract to Allied, said he didn't think the 7 percent savings was enough to justify abandoning a proven provider.

“I was on the council 20 years ago and I used to get calls two to three times a month from people complaining about garbage service," Clay said, according to the paper. “In the seven-plus years I’ve been on council this time, I’ve not gotten a single call or email from anyone with a complaint about the service from Dick’s."

But other council members said that standards of service would be guaranteed by the contract.

“In the end, it comes down to dollars and cents for the community," council member Jay Whiting said.

Dick's Sanitation's contract expires on May 31, 2014.