A private company will probably take over garbage collection in East Moline next year. Monday night, the city council gave its preliminary approval to signing a seven-year contract with Republic Services.
City administrator Cole O'Donnell says privatization has been discussed in recent years but aldermen did not want to lay off any city workers. Now though, four people have retired from the Public Works department, and that's how many employees it takes to collect trash. So all current workers can keep their jobs.
He estimates immediate savings for the city of 40,000 dollars, and long-term of 350,000 dollars.
Garbage pickup now costs East Moline residents 7-dollars and 15-cents per month, and it will stay at the level through the first year under Republic, thanks to a subsidy from the city. Then O'Donnell says rates would rise gradually to nearly 8 1/2 dollars in the final year of the contract.
Republic Services already provides this service in Silvis.
A final vote is expected at the city council's first meeting in October.