One thing was very clear after last week’s Oxford Village Council meeting ? folks love Odd Job Disposal.
‘I couldn’t ask for better service,? said township Supervisor Bill Dunn, who uses Odd Job for the township’s annual cleanup day at Stony Lake Park.
‘They just do a fantastic job,? said Gregg Carter, a 30-year township resident. ‘You’ll never find the barrels out in the middle of the road when it’s a windy day . . . It might seem minor, but it’s not.?
‘I would say nothing but great things about them,? said Bob Scott, a village resident who lives on Conda Lane, a private street served by Odd Job.
A number of local officials and residents spoke very highly of the Oxford-based Odd Job Disposal as council members considered proposals for residential waste collection/recycling services.
Because only three of the five council members were in attendance at last week’s meeting and a potential legal issue was raised by an audience member, officials voted 3-0 to set aside making a decision.
The two low bidders were the Sterling Heights-based Rizzo Environmental Services at $10.90 per household per month and Odd Job at $11.50.
Odd Job’s owners and employees attended the meeting and addressed council.
Rizzo had no representatives present.
Rizzo has been the village’s trash hauler since November 2012. The company’s contract with the municipality expires Aug. 31.
Right now, village households are paying $12.40 per month for Rizzo’s services. However, if the village agreed to extend Rizzo’s contract by five years, the company indicated it would lower the monthly rate to a fixed $10.90 for the length of the contract.
Whether the village chooses Rizzo or Odd Job, the monthly residential garbage bill would decrease. It’s just a question of how much. With Rizzo, it would decrease by a $1.50 per month. With Odd Job, it would be reduced by 90 cents per month.
Jessica Christensen, manager of Odd Job and wife of co-owner Tom Christensen, told council the 60-cent difference is not a lot and ‘we are hoping that local does mean something.?
Not only is Odd Job based in Oxford Township at 3323 Metamora Rd., but the Christensens are Oxford residents and their children attend Oxford Elementary School.
Jessica Christensen’s grandfather, the late Delbert Lee Robinson, worked for the Oxford Police Department for approximately 20 years and the village DPW for 34 years, the last 20 of which he served as superintendent.
‘It’s a big deal (for us) to support our community,? she told council. ‘We’re here in the village shopping all the time. We come here constantly.?
She wasn’t the only one who places extra value on dealing with local businesses.
‘I wouldn’t have a problem paying just a little bit more to have a local company that pays taxes in this community, shops in this community, that sends their children to our schools,? said Dunn, who lives in the village. ‘I would highly recommend that we go local and give these folks a chance.?
‘Local is always better, I think, in many cases when it’s economically feasible to do that,? said Councilman Bryan Cloutier.
Cloutier deals with Odd Job in both his professional and personal lives.
As the Oxford Public Library director, Cloutier uses Odd Job’s commercial trash pickup services. ‘I don’t really have any major issues with their company at all,? he said.
Whenever a problem has arisen, Cloutier said all it took to resolve things was a phone call to Odd Job. ‘We’ve been very happy with the response that we’ve gotten and the customer service level that has been extended to us,? he said.
Cloutier has experience with Odd Job in his personal life because the company handles the trash and recycling collection for Ashley Way, the private street he lives on.
‘From a personal perspective, my neighbors and I have been very happy with the service that we get,? he said.
Oxford Fire Chief Pete Scholz is in much the same position as Cloutier. Odd Job handles the fire department’s garbage and does trash pickup for the Oxford Oaks condominiums, where Scholz lives and serves as association president.
?(Odd Job has) always been on time, very clean, very courteous,? Scholz said.
The only praise for Rizzo at the meeting came from village Manager Joe Young
‘The service that we’ve received from Rizzo is excellent as well,? he said.
Young spoke of Rizzo’s ‘corporate structure,? the company’s ‘financial well-being,? and their use of technology such as having GPS units in their trucks.
The manager noted every Thursday, which is when trash collection takes place now in the village, the Rizzo foreman visits the municipal office to see if there have been any complaints about the company’s service.
‘If there are, they will go out there with their truck and take care of the matter,? Young said. ‘Rizzo has been outstanding.?
Thomas Rini, shop foreman for Odd Job, told council if his company was awarded the contract, he would personally make sure there are no issues. Young asked if he would be willing to stop in the village office every Thursday just like Rizzo does.
‘If you need me to,? Rini replied.
Young noted Rizzo has been a ‘great sponsor? of community events and activities. When later asked for specifics, Young told this reporter Rizzo has donated trash containers for special events, but made no monetary contributions.
Christensen pointed out Odd Job donates to a variety of local programs and events, from the Oxford Twp. Parks and Recreation Dept. to the Oxford High School Senior All-Night Party.
‘We put our money back here,? she said.
Village resident Bonnie Staley had no issue with the village contracting with Odd Job other than the possibility of Rizzo suing the municipality.
‘Rizzo turned around and sued Rochester because they took a higher bid,? Staley told council. ‘I don’t want to see the village take on the expense of a lawsuit because we chose to go with someone who charges more than Rizzo.?
It was noted that in the village’s request for proposals regarding trash/recycling services, it was clearly stated the municipality reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals.
Village attorney Bob Davis looked into Staley’s concern and found ‘there never was a Rochester lawsuit? filed by Rizzo.
‘I met with the Rizzo folks,? he said. ‘It never went to a lawsuit, it got resolved. They had a dispute, but it never ripened into any lawsuit.?