After hearing and seeing a presentation from Best Equipment Company out of Indianapolis regarding automated trash pickup, the Frankfort City Council all agreed to move forward with the project by consensus.
“It helps clean the city up,” said Frankfort Mayor Judy Sheets.
Council members are going to work on what they want in the plan between now and the next council meeting on Monday, June 13.
Shane Langemeier of Best Equipment told those in attendance that the city would need two new trucks and a third used one. Each truck lasts seven to eight years plus the tote, which holds approximately 96 pounds of trash, lasts 12 to 15 years.
The truck comes to a stop and an arm reaches out, picks up the tote and dumps it into the truck. It is all automated and can save at least two to two-and-a-half hours of time picking up trash which can free up employees to work on something else.
One thing Sheets is concerned about is the risk of injuries to employees, particularly to the people getting an off the truck to pick up trash.
“It’s so dangerous,” she said.” People do not pay attention. Also, we have a lot of injuries like maybe fall or trip getting off of there. And, just the wear and tear on their bodies from lifting those bags.”
Langemeier said it takes four to five months to get the program going and suggested the best of time of year to implement the program is November.
No cost figures were discussed, but Sheets said there would not be an increase in the user fee since they just increased those fees earlier this year. The only way is if people may want a second tote.
In the Board of Works meeting held before the City Council, the three-member board approved having the Hot Dog Festival on July 29 and 30 in downtown Frankfort with the setup being the same as last year’s event because of the detours for road construction.