Lemoore City Council opts to seek solid waste proposals

In the earlier session, city officials presented options, including bids from Mid Valley Disposal, which presented proposals to take over the city’s refuse department earlier in the month.

Councilmembers and staff, including members of the city’s refuse department, attended the study session in the Lemoore Civic Auditorium devoted to the possible privatization of the city’s longtime refuse department.

A contingent of MVD representatives told council members, city employees, and audience members that it could boost its weekly can pick-up service to three cans every week. Lemoore refuse trucks pick up just two cans a week, alternating between recyclables and green waste.

There were undoubtedly incentives for Lemoore City Council members to consider MVD’s offer. According to officials at the meeting, the local refuse company currently serves 26 Central Valley communities. In addition, representatives told local officials that the company offers a 15% franchise fee, approximately  $665,000 annually, which would go into the city’s coffers.

In addition, according to the Nov. 21 City Council Study Session minutes, the transition to Mid Valley would result in a one-time payment to the City of $2,500,000 to Lemoore.

The city’s refuse department is an expensive operation. The 2022-23 refuse budget calls for a proposed $4,424,215  budget.

Mid Valley is led by Joseph Kalpakoff, and with over 350 employees, it provides exclusive collection services to 31 local jurisdictions and is permitted to provide collection services in Fresno, Merced, Kings, and Tulare counties. He told councilmembers that his company services 27 Central Valley cities.

Any decision will likely go out to bid earlier next year.