Fall 2021 Hometown Messenger

City selects Dick's Sanitation as new garbage hauler At its June 15, 2021 meeting, the City Council approved a new five-year contract with Dick’s Sanitation Inc. (DSI). The contract will make DSI the city’s contracted garbage hauler for all residential properties beginning January 2022. Earlier this year, City Council directed staff to solicit requests for contracted city-wide refuse and recycling collection and disposal. The council identified several ongoing concerns regarding refuse and recycling service, including cart management, customer service improvements, an every-week recycling option and trial organics collection.

The city received four qualified responses fromWaste Management, West Central Sanitation, Dick’s Sanitation and Republic Services.

HOW CAN I HELP YOU? Meet Andrew Boucher, a Planner with the City of Shakopee. Q: How long have you worked for the city? A: I have worked for the City of Shakopee since April 2020, so about a year and a half. I got to Shakopee after serving a year in the Minnesota GreenCorps and spending a year and a half as a Planner/Code Enforcement Official in Blaine, Washington. Q: What do you like about working for the City of Shakopee? A: I love working for the City of Shakopee because I feel like I’m surrounded by people who are part of a culture that promotes ambition and innovation and challenges us to go above and beyond to serve the community. It’s one of the most supportive working environments I’ve gotten to be part of. Q: What's the best part of your job? A: My favorite part of my job has been being able to collaborate and foster working partnerships with community partners to make a difference as well as provide the kind of hands-on community service/stewardship that influenced me to get on the career-path I chose.

After an interview process, Dick’s Sanitation was determined to best meet the city’s needs.

DSI will be responsible for providing all residential sanitation services, including collection, disposal and billing. Most of the transition will happen behind the scenes. However, residents will be notified of any necessary steps to verify their account information prior to 2022. As part of the contract, DSI is purchasing the city’s garbage and recycling carts and will continue to use them. Residents who have a City of Shakopee cart will not receive a new one. Only those who have a Republic Services bin will have their carts exchanged. Yard waste carts will also be exchanged at the end of the season.

SERVICE LEVEL

2022

$11.56

35-gallon every-other week garbage collection + every-other week recycling 35-gallon every week garbage collection + every-other week recycling 65-gallon every week garbage collection + every-other week recycling 95-gallon every week garbage collection + every-other week recycling

$14.70

$15.05

$16.20

At this time, an every week recycling option is not available, but residents can contact DSI to discuss getting a second recyling cart.

To get more information about the garbage hauler transition, sign up for updates at www.ShakopeeMN.gov/subscribe.

NEWS & NOTES Communications Division awarded with two Northern Lights Awards The City’s Communications Division was awarded with two Northern Lights Awards. Awarded by the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators (MAGC), the Northern Lights Award is a statewide competition between city, county and state agencies. Two projects received commendation: the Hometown Messenger received the bronze award for city magazine, and the Lock-It Shakopee campaign received the silver award for video campaign.

New employees join staff Several new employees have recently joined the City of Shakopee organization: • Chelsea Petersen, Assistant City Administrator

• Amanda Moe, Building Inspector • Touyia Lee, Graduate Engineer • Alyssa Olson, Senior Planner

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