Tabled from its meeting on March 21, the Marshall City Council continued its discussion about a proposed ordinance to outsource sanitation services with RTS Waste Services LLC, of Slater, due to the difficulty of retaining a consistent workforce during its meeting on Monday, April 4.

This discussion had more facts and numbers for city residents to consider. Ward 2 Councilman Kirk Arends acknowledged the council didn’t do a good enough job in educating the public on how much it is going to cost to keep the service in-house.

City Administrator JD Kehrman explained in order for the city to raise wages for sanitation workers to a level to hopefully retain them – and not pull workers from the street department- trash rates are going to need to be raised.

Later, it was explained sanitation is a fee-based service, whereas the street department is tax-based.

Kehrman explained some of the advantages of the proposed contract.

In the end, City Attorney Josh Taylor pointed out this ordinance in its current form could not be tabled again. The council would need to vote on it, or it would effectively die on the floor. No motion was made, so this ordinance died on the floor.

Taylor further explained the ordinance can be brought back in the future, but it will need to start the process over again.

THERE WAS A LOT MORE TO THE DISCUSSION, AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO IT IN ITS ENTIRETY BY CLICKING ON THE AUDIO LINK BELOW.