Due to the inability to retain employees, the Marshall Sanitation Department is shorthanded, and a move to a private contractor for collection of trash is a reality.

According to City Administrator JD Kehrman, the department has been a revolving door for employees since 2019. He said there have been 29 employees hired and either left on their own or let go in the past three years.

Currently, the Street and Sanitation Department is down nine employees, requiring the need for employees in both departments to team up and take care of trash collection in the city.

Kehrman said the sanitation department has been down by four workers pretty much ever since he arrived in the summer of 2021.

So, this puts the city in a position to contract out for trash collection.

Kehrman said the city council will consider approval of the first reading of an ordinance to enter into a contract with Rural Trash Service (RTS) of Slater for trash collection. Despite the change, Kehrman points out, there will not be an increase in customer bills.

Kehrman invites Marshall residents to come to the next council meeting and ask questions of the council and an RTS representative who will be on hand.

The next meeting of the Marshall City Council is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Monday, March 21.