PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The City of Portage is refuting claims made by a local woman that their embattled new single hauler garbage contract will cost her more and provide less service.
Linda Owens claimed at this week’s City Council meeting that her husband is pretty good at math, and he figures the new deal with Waste Management will cost them $300 more per year.
We have obtained a copy of a letter from Manager Pat McGinnis responding to the Owens family that according to the figures they provided, they will actually save $273 a year, cutting their bill in half, while receiving the same trash and yard waste pickups they get now.
Owen also bemoaned the loss of the city’s recycling program. “This is very wrong. We have a wonderful, wonderful recycling program in the city. That’s going to be taken away.”
But Tuesday night, Mayor Patricia Randall assured her that the Recycling program will continue too. “We have a millage that’s been approved by the residents. We implemented single stream recycling nine years ago. You will not be charged for that.”
McGinnis writes in his letter that given there is so much misinformation being shared, it is understandable that there is confusion about the transition in the community.
Waste Management doesn’t take over the service until next spring.
I will happily show Patricia Randall and Pat McGinnis my garbage bill from the last four years which shows I am currently paying significantly less than what I will be paying when this takes effect. It is disingenous for Mayor Randall to continue to tell Portage residents that they will pay less for the single hauler service when she does not know what we are paying. What will they impose next? Single internet provider? Single cable provider? Wake up, Portage.