BELLE — During an April 17 special meeting, Belle Mayor Daryl White, Jr., told the board they finally have a couple of businesses interested in providing trash service to the city.

“We have a couple of people interested (in trash service) finally after all the time we spent, me and Charro calling and looking, “EngleSmith Sanitation out of Salem, Missouri, the owner is out of Crocker, that has three trash trucks. We also have Ryan Scott, who is in the process of starting a trash business.”

Scott, who is from Belle and owns Sunset Heating and Cooling, said the trailer for the new trash service has been purchased and would be picked up by the end of the week.

“EngleSmith had ask if the city had any interest in — they sent us prices before the meeting,” White began. “We are thinking for in-town service $20 for their containers, as we have (no containers) at this time. And $24 for out-of-city limits monthly.”

White said EngleSmith proposed adding the waste bill to the city’s water bill. As White spoke City Clerk Frankie Horstman and Alderman Jeanette Struemph shook their heads.

“We can’t do that without two years’ notice,” Hicks said.

Public Works Director Tony Baretich said the city started the two-year notice process two years ago, but it never went anywhere.

“I think it is getting confusing,” Hicks added. “People think we are contracting with these companies because they are calling me for prices.”

Alderman Adam Padgett said he spoke with former mayor Steve Vogt who said he had started the process to contract the city’s trash services three separate times.

“Every time a new election takes place or a new alderman is appointed, the processes never gets followed up on,” Padgett said. “He says it has to be a two-year process.”

Struemph said it was brought up again a year ago. Baretich said it is a good idea because then everyone would have trash service.

“That’s the thing, everyone would have to have trash service who had water,” White said. “And we could control the trash service.”

White said there are many pros and cons to it, but he has only started talking about it with the company in the last 24 hours.

“It’s not a deal-breaker,” White added. “Some of the stuff he was going to offer with the city, if they wanted to make money on it, he would add it to the contract where the city would get a free citywide clean up. I will just tell him that it is not possible.”

The owner of Eagle Smith said if the leftover trash containers from GFL/WCA are still in town when his company comes to town, he will empty them for the customer.

“I think Ryan (Scott) said the same thing,” White said.

GFL says they are coming back fro their cans when they get time.

“We contacted Uline and they have 300 cans available, which we were gonna do,” Scott said. “With the (65 gallon) canit  is $30 a month, without the can is $20 a month. Flat rate — doesn’t matter if it is in town or outside of town.”

Scott asked the city officials how they would like to see the services handled, pick-up could be one or two days a week.

Struemph suggested Scott hold a town meeting with people who are looking for trash service, because some of the town already has trash service.

“We are not willing to give up what we have,” Struemph said about her trash service. “What do we have? 40 or 50 percent of the town without trash service?”

Padgett said Scott isn’t trying to take over for everyone, just those who want it or need it.

Scott said he will also be able to offer dumpster services.

“It will be a full-service trash company, personal service and cans,” Scott said. “$20 bucks if you want to use your own cans.”

Struemph said she thinks it is great what Scott is doing.

“Trailer is ready to go, we are gonna rig up a lift on the side and hydraulics ramps to pull it all forward,” Scott said. “You can’t buy a trash truck right now, it’s an 18-month wait and a half a million dollars.”

He said he wanted to attend the meeting and feel things out.

“People who already have existing trash service may want to make the switch and add on to our load,’ Scott said. “We also have access to roll-off dumpsters.”

Struemph said she thinks two different days would benefit him.

“We will go at least to the river down Highway 89, to the airport, down to Paydown, High Gate,” Scott said.

Scott was asked if he would provide additional service if he misses someone.

“I believe we will make the effort that you do not get missed,” he said. “I’ve got over three-quarters of the town in my Quickbooks anyway. We know just about where everybody lives. 90 percent of the population of Belle has my phone number, and I am easily accessible. If some of my guys miss a trash pickup, just call and I’ll turn ‘em around.”

Scott said if any of the elderly citizens can’t get their trash out to the curb, they can call him and they guys will go in and get it for them.

“We would be more than happy to come into the house and get the trash for them if they can’t make it to the end of the driveway,” Scott said. “There are some people that just don’t have the ability to do it.”

They will take payment by the month, set it up for automatic or charge by the year if the customer wants.

“You’re thinking within 30 days you will be ready?” Padgett asked.

“I’m thinking two weeks,” Scott countered.

If there is inclement weather, Scott said the trash service probably won’t run.

“If we’ve got ice rollin’ in and you’re not on the road we probably won’t be either,” Scott said. “With the two-day-a-week pickup that leaves us Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for alternate pickup days.”

Scott said anyone interested in services can call him. The city offered him a copy of the sign-up sheet at City Hall.