City Council Votes Down Resolution to Prevent Sale of O'Fallon Trash Hauling and Recycling Division

The O’Fallon City Council has rejected a resolution that would have stopped moves that could lead to the city selling its trash and recycling division.

The council voted 5-4 at their Nov. 17 meeting against a resolution that directed the city staff to cease work on plans to hire a consultant to develop requests for proposals for selling the city’s Environmental Services Division.  The division picks up trash and recycled materials from more than 23,000 households in the city.

Once hired, the consultant would determine a potential monitary value of the division and costs to customers. O'Fallon is proceeding with a process that might lead to the sale of its trash and recycling division.

Voting against the resolution were council members Rick Lucas, Ward 1; Rose Mack and Jim Pepper, both of Ward 2; and Bob Howell and Jeff Schwentker, both of Ward 4.  John Haman Jr., Ward 3; Bill Gardner, Ward 1; and Mike Pheney and Mark Perkins , both of Ward 5, voted for it. Councilman Richard Battelle, Ward 3, was absent.

In October, the city’s Public Works Commission and Advisory Green Council voted to recommend the council not hire a consultant.

The resolution from the Advisory Green Council was forwarded by Haman, who is the full council's representative on this citizen-member board. The resolution would have supported the both the commissions and council.

Tom Drabelle, communications director for the city, said Monday that the city is seeking proposals from consultants to determine a value for the system.

“Whether we sell it or not, we don’t have a value for it (the division),” Drabelle said.  Proposals for consultants may not be back into the city until December.