Independence Township leaders are talking trash with other communities, hoping to save some money.
Robert DePalma, Groveland Township supervisor, spoke to the Township Board, Dec. 16, about joining five other communities to study garbage-service consolidation in northern Oakland County, as well as new ways of disposing of trash.
‘The principle benefit of that study would be to prove whether or not it’s feasible to do it,” said DePalma. “If so, under what method and how much money we could save for our various residents.”
A second aspect is new and environmentally-sensitive trash technology to eliminate landfills, he said.
The board voted unanimously to join the study.
‘I think it’s an excellent opportunity to show bipartisan support on something so important to our state and our entire country,” said Supervisor Dave Wagner. “Trash is a major problem across this country and how to handle it properly along with the amount of truck traffic that we have on our roads up our subdivisions. I think this is an opportune time for us to look at it and see if it is feasible. The governor is trying to tie in state share revenue to the communities that participate in these cooperative ventures and we’re trying to lead the way.?
Oakland County set up the Capital and Cooperative Initiatives Revolving Fund grant program two years ago, for county municipalities looking at ways to work together, DePalma said.
‘The bulk of the grants up to this point and time have been used by different communities to evaluate whether or not they should consolidate things like police or fire departments,? said DePalma, who used a CCIRF grant two years ago to consolidate fire departments in his area.
The study will be conducted by a consulting firm picked by Oakland County, which will fund it.
‘Typically these studies run on the low side of $50,000 and on the high side of $80,000,? said DePalma.
Trustee Mark Petterson was glad to hear it wouldn’t cost the township anything.
‘Anytime we can get a government entity pay for a study, that’s just something we really need to jump on,? he said.
DePalma said he was also approached by Springfield Township Supervisor Mike Trout.
‘Springfield will be adopting it after the first of the year,? he said. ‘If this study proves fruitful, I believe we will have a number of communities that want to be added.?
Trustee Neil Wallace said it was a ‘worthwhile project and a good move forward.?
DePalma said he is ‘extremely grateful? to Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, and Bob Daddow, deputy county executive for Oakland County, for getting the grant.
‘Anytime that communities come together either for cost or operating efficiencies is a step in the right direction, especially in today’s economic situation, so we applaud these five communities for taking this kind of initiative,? said Dennis Toffolo, deputy county executive for Oakland County. ‘We’re in full support of not only looking at these various companies, but we will live by their request.?
Communities involved are Groveland, Independence, Springfield, White Lake, Waterford, and West Bloomfield townships.