By ZEINAB NAJM
Sunday Times Newspapers
TAYLOR — The City Council unanimously voted to put GFL Environmental on immediate notice of failure to satisfy its contract with the city. GFL has two weeks to fulfill their contact obligations before the agreement is transferred to Priority Waste.
During the Oct. 5 meeting, the council went into a closed session for the discussion before making the motion for the city to “provide notice of default to GFL pursuant to section 11C-2 termination of cause of the underlining contract,” Council Chairman Tim Woolley read.
Next, the council approved Priority Waste to provide rubbish and compost waste pickup and removal services to residents and businesses on an interim emergency basis if needed.
Priority Waste will serve the city on terms and conditions consistent with the existing GFL city contract if GFL discontinues service prior to the expiration of the 14-day notice of default period.
Issues with GFL in Taylor and the metropolitan Detroit area have been ongoing as a result of labor shortages leading to delays and weekend pickups during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At a July 6 council meeting, Department of Public Services Director Craig Lyon said there were 466 calls not confirmed to be picked up in the month of June.
He also mentioned three calls in April with two confirmed to be picked up and 50 calls in May with 48 of those pickups confirmed. Lyon said the response time from GFL and route supervisors have been “pretty good” from his experience.
The iCare Taylor app is one way residents can report missed trash, recycle or compost pick-up so a ticket is created and GFL is notified to address the issue.
A Citywide News Flash posted on the city’s website June 15 said GFL District General Manager Sam Caramagno appeared before the council during a study session the night before to explain the difficulties. He said the company recently lost a key supervisor and several employees unexpectedly, leading to delays in the schedule.
Lyon assured that there will be a “very loud and clear message” sent to the GFL management when the receive the city’s bill. He said that GFL sent the city its bill which was about $9,000 and that the city’s bill to GFL is going to be $46,600.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at zeinabnajm92@gmail.com.)