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Home My WebLink About9.c. Recycling Hauler ComplaintCITY OF ROSEMOUNT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: APRIL 7, 1992 AGENDA ITEM: AGENDA SECTION: RECYCLING HAULER COMPLAINT CONSENT PREPARED BY: AGENDf11ei/I # Q C Ir STEPHAN JILK, CITY ADMINISTRATOR 7 ATTACHMENTS: LETTERS: COMMISSIONER LOEDING, APP VED Y: KNUTSON SERVICES In recognition of the letter offered by Commissioner Loeding regarding his concerns on recycling hauler problems, I contacted Mr. Wally Wall, General Manager of Knutson Services to discuss the issues raised by Mr. Loeding. I had an interesting discussion with Mr. Wall with his expressed concern over the issues raised by Mr. Loeding and his stated interest in working on all the issues. Since Mr. Loeding wrote the letter, Mr. Wall has spent time with his drivers on the routes, started a cleanup of areas along such routes as 160th Street and Biscayne and stated that the company is designing a special net system to keep materials from blowing away from the large trucks. I came away feeling that the company's sincere interest and efforts will be to devote a greater effort to "proper" pickup and hauling. Mr. Wall also provided the attached letter in response to the concerns. RECOMMENDED ACTION: None. COUNCIL ACTION: STEVEN G COMMISSIONER - FOURTH DIST RICTDA OTA COUNTY 3260 W. 147TH ST. ROSEMOUNT, MN 55068 DAKOTA COUNTY ADMINISTRATION CENTER TELEPHONE 1590 HWY. 55 - HASTINGS. MINNESOTA 55033 -PHONE 438-4418 HOME (612) 423-4150 March 24, 1992 Mayor E.B. McMenomy City of Rosemount 2875 - 145th Street West Rosemount, MN 55068 Dear Ed: Over the past several months I have talked several times with Larry Knutson, owner of Knutson Rubbish, and his employees about a litter problem resulting from loads leaking from his trucks. Each time I have been given assurance that the problem would be corrected. It has not been corrected and it is time we work together to enforce correction. It is important to note that I am not talking about an occasional piece of paper. I am talking about large volumes of paper littering the streets of our city. On March 16, 1992 I witnessed a situation that pushed me to the point of writing this letter. About 4:00 p.m. on March 16 I saw the recycling truck working in the downtown area. I was on my way to a short meeting and I noted it because it was very late in the day for them to be picking up. About 4:30 p.m. I was returning home going north on Chippendale with I noticed several grocery bags littering the intersection with 147th Street. I previously complained to Knutson that his recycling truck leaks grocery bags so I drove south to 148th Street and found the truck. It was pulling away from a stop with empty grocery bags spilling off the back. When the truck stopped again, I stopped and told the driver he was leaking bags. I pointed down the street where bags were laying. I asked him if he would go back and pick them up. He mumbled something like "yah, if I have time." I called Knutson's office to report the incident and talked to Wally Wall. He said he would take care of it. The next morning I saw several locations where empty grocery bags were still littering the street.' My frustration is that these bags were littering areas that supposedly were picked up after I talked to the driver and the office. A04, RECYCLED PAPER Mayor McMenomy March 24, 1992 Page 2 In previous phone calls i have reported plastic containers spilling off trucks, glass spilling out of overflowing barrels on the side of the truck and drivers missing when they throw things at bins and driving off without.picking up the leakage. Part of the problem is that haulers are spreading themselves thin running several trucks on a route when they used to run only one. In the process, quality of service is slipping. If we don't work together to enforce quality, the problems will continue to grow. When haulers repeatedly fail to correct problems brought to their attention we need to take strong action. I bring this to your attention because the city has a contract with Knutson for recycling pick up. I hope that contract. has some provision for quality enforcement. I have attached another memo I recently sent to our county staff about other "incidents of leakage. Please review these matters and give me your thoughts as to how we should take action. Sincerely, Steve G. Loeding Commissioner - 4th District SGL:dod attachment cc: Rosemount Council Rosemount City Administrator Barry Schade, Dakota County Dakota County Board of Commissioners Larry Knutson 112 ,=91 ^l 31 0=.'2a/92 1-4: 3E. DAKOTA COLINT1'—WESTERN SERV. CTF. 001 i:may, fct:ruan 10. 199 L-, 1.1 - <xr^ 1 (1 MEMO FROM THE OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER STEVE LOEOING 3260 U). 147TH STREET - ROSEMOUNT, MN - 55068 OFFICE PHONE: (6 12) 438-4418 HOME PHONE: (612) 425-4150 DATt- 2-10-92 TO: Burry Shade SU81ECT: Grarbage Truck regulation As- Part of our hauler permitting I would like to set a review of what haulers are doing to reduce leakage. I am seeing more and more of it. With We addition of rerycliag, we have more than doubled the number of trucks on our roads. My discussion with some of the haulers indicates they are not. all that concerned abovt the problem. They seem to have -the attitude that "when you liandle as much garbage as we do, It is hard to get excited about a few percent spillage." While I know it is impossible to eliminate spillage, i am very concerned about the lack of hauler attention to the problem. 1 have especially noticed that the huge front end lottdilas ,nachines are the worst offeuders. These are the tyre that have forks on the front of the truck to pick up dumpsters and tip thein upside down over it hole in the top of the truck. There is a lot of spilthge when they dump. 1 also see thein driving down the road with garbage blowing nut of the hole in the top of the truck. 'There must be something thef can. do to improve the aerodynamic to zimp this problem. Like so many other issues with the haulers though, they don't seem to act until we force them to. Please review this issue and give me your ideas. Thatiks. April 2, 1992 Mayor E. B. McMenomy City of Rosemount 2875 -145th Street West Rosemount, MN- 55068 Dear Ed, We at Knutson services agree with Commissioner Loeding that littering our communities with leaking trucks is unacceptable. It is true, the entire industry is spreading itself very thin. The requirements of this competitive industry plus new regulations have reduced operating margins to a minimum. We at Knutson Services are participating in margin reductions, but offering our very best in quality service. I would like to communicate various avenues or programs currently in place or planned that emote positive attitudes and actions of quality service for our community, environment, and industry: *Extensive driver training and recognition program (Knutson KRISP bonus program) *Equipment upgrades and modifications (Increased services and reduced tittering) *Route audits by management (Proper driver techniques) *Enhanced personnel qualifications *Employee and community recycling education (litter control) *Residential and community pride programs (Rosemount) *Spring cleanup (East and West Hwy 3 on 160th St.) *Adopt -A -Highway (6 miles of Cedar Ave.) The management staff at Knutson Services is committed to quality service. We intend to maintain our civic track record through innovative operating -procedures and community programs. Our goal is a quest for excellence. This goal gives dignity to employees, character to our business, and satisfaction to our customers. D. F. Wail General Manager oc Steve G. Loeding Commissioner - 4th District Rosemount Council Rosemount City Administrator Barry Schade, Dakota County Dakota County Board of Commissioners Larry Knutson SOLID WASTE • RECYCLING SYSTEMS STREETSWEEPING Since 1961 Printed on recycled paper