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MACOMB TOWNSHIP — There was trash talk in the township hall’s meeting room on May 10, as the Macomb Township Board of Trustees voted to continue contracting with GFL Environmental for residential waste hauling.
The decision came after an evaluation. Trustee Frank Cusumano, Township Chief Financial Officer Stacy Smith, Deputy Supervisor Jody Claycomb, Deputy Treasurer Carl D’Andrea and Department of Public Works Director Kevin Johnson reviewed offers and worked with representatives from three trash services firms: GFL, Waste Management and Priority Waste. The decision to go with GFL was unanimous among the committee members.
“The evaluation team met, on average, one to two times a month to evaluate these proposals, each meeting lasting three to four hours,” Johnson said. “We sat with all of the bidders for a three-hour interview, and from there, we focused on a couple primary concerns. No. 1 was cost, No. 2 was customer service … and with other concerns being bulk pickup, missed pickup and what discounts could be offered to our residents to save them some money.”
From a cost standpoint, Priority was close but still more expensive than GFL. For under-60 customers, GFL had a base rate of $1,098.48, while Priority offered $1,123.20.
In a last-ditch effort to win the contract, Priority, based in Clinton Township, came out in full force. More than a dozen representatives from Priority attended the meeting, and Priority CEO Todd Stamper made a final plea to the board during initial public comments.
“I feel that if the council would agree to table (the vote) and actually do a site visit to understand why we can prove the excellence this township deserves on the service portion and on the customer service side,” Stamper said. “Do a site visit of GFL, do a site visit of Priority Waste and witness for yourself.”
Priority’s ask for more time was joined by three public commenters who asked the board not to go with GFL. Despite the push by Priority and the commenters, Cusumano made it clear the decision was settled for now.
“GFL was the lowest for the first five-year period. Priority then goes lower if it were to be extended for a full 10-year period,” Cusumano said. “But for the reasons I have stated off the record, when you’re making a significant change, there should be some driver that is either on price or on service, and I am not seeing that a sufficient, significant difference exists between Priority and GFL to necessitate making a change.”
Trustees voted unanimously to award GFL the contract, which will last for five years.
Sign permit moratorium
Trustees also approved a 90-day moratorium on receiving billboard permits in the township.
The move comes following a sign permit denial, which the Planning Department said later became a legal action.
“It filed its lawsuit challenging the ordinance that is currently in effect, not our new ordinance, but some of the concerns that have been raised in that lawsuit may have a carry-over effect to our new ordinance,” said Tim Tomlinson, attorney for the township.
The moratorium stops the receipt of new permits so the township can review the legal challenge under the past sign ordinance and how it could impact the new ordinance.
Pitchford crossing
On May 10, the board awarded Warren Contractors a $239,502.21 bid to construct a pedestrian crossing at Pitchford Park.
Warren Contractors was awarded the contract to build the park, which did not include a pedestrian bridge over the Denryter Drain. The bridge was added, and Warren Contractors was picked because they already have equipment on-site.
The cost of the park is also being reimbursed by the state, as state Rep. Doug Wozniak and state Sen. Veronica Klinefelt included a $240,000 Michigan Enhancement Grant to the township in the 2023 state budget.
