Borough Assembly votes to renew Alaska Waste contract

Kodiak Borough Assembly voted on Thursday to again award a solid waste removal contract for the borough to Alaska Waste. The five assembly members present voted unanimously, Assemblymembers Andrew Schroeder and Rebecca Skinner were absent from Thursday’s meeting.

According to borough manager Michael Powers, three contractors submitted bids, and the borough moved forward with negotiations with the lowest one. The unanimous vote is an intent to award the contract to Alaska Waste through the year 2027, and it opens up a 30-day protest period to allow for any challenges to the bid or the contract.

While one citizen voiced dissatisfaction at Alaska Waste’s prices during citizen comments, remarks from other residents as well as Assemblymember Dennis Symmons was largely positive. “I can talk about the satisfaction that I can see with who we have as our waste management company,” Symmons said before the vote. “It’s pretty overwhelming. And in Kodiak, people say what’s on their mind.”

After the vote, Division Manager for Alaska Waste, Mark Gingrich said he was optimistic going into the meeting, and that the company looks forward to serving Kodiak for another seven years. “Our employees provide a great service to the community and we have a great relationship with the community, so we’re not surprised and are pleased with the oucome.”

One change to expect if the contracting process goes through is new, bear-proof roll-carts for trash pick-up. Speaking as a private citizen, Nick Szabo, who is also the chairman of the Solid Waste Advisory Board, was particularly emphatic. “Alaska Waste at no charge to the borough will replace all the existing roll-carts with these guys,” he said, pounding his fist on one of the new heavy duty roll-carts brought into assembly chambers for the meeting.

“I have personally taken them out of the Alaska Waste building and thrown them from one end of the parking lot to the other and they do not pop open,” Szabo continued. “What happens with these floppy roll carts we got now, the wind blows the top open, the dogs push it over, the birds take and scatter it all around. I defy the birds and the dogs to do anything [bang, bang, bang] with these.”

Gingrich confirmed that the new carts will be issued at no additional cost to the community.