New Hope
City Council meeting - January 22, 2019
Mayor Kathi Hemken, and councilmembers John Elder and Andy Hoffe led the effort to set aside the discussion of government managed trash collection for the near future.
Members of the council stated that they would continue to monitor neighboring cities and could bring the issue forward again in the future if there were new developments. It was noted that the next neighboring city to discuss this issue would be the City of Golden Valley and at present they were not interested in government managed trash collection.
Councilmembers noted that residents raised concerns about being charged for service when they were out of town or if they generated little waste and disposed of trash on their own or through sharing services. Under a government managed trash collection system, typically everyone is forced to pay for service even if they are out of town for months at a time or if they generate little to no trash of their own.
Councilmember Andy Hoffe stated that the council has taken action on this issue by limiting the number of licensed haulers to four, which will be reduced by attrition. This action was taken by the city council in 2018.
Councilmember Jonathan London accepted the decision of the majority but was displeased and complained throughout the discussion.
Prior to the start of the meeting, councilmember Jonathan London confronted a member of GHCC, accusing the organization of rigging trash hauling laws against the city at the legislature in 2018. City government lobbying organizations raised no concerns about changes to trash hauling laws enacted in 2018. During this discussion, he again reiterated that he was the smartest member of the city council. At previous meetings he has called the Mayor and other city councilmembers liars and ignorant.
Randy's Environmental Services Response to City Council Questions - April 20, 2018
Mr. Alger,
At the April 16, 2018 workshop the city requested input on four specific waste collection topics. Randy's Environmental Services offers the following comment.
Hauler Licenses: Randy's has suggested publicly for several years that limiting waste hauling licenses is an effective method of providing a balance between the free enterprise system and responsible city management. It is important to be thoughtful when limiting licensing within a community so as not to inhibit competition. We believe that competition in the marketplace stimulates innovation, and ultimately yields better service for the community. Randy's would be happy to work with the city to find that balance.
Roadway Study: We appreciate the cities willingness to take the time and effort to study roadway deterioration. Engineering experts have and will debate the cause of roadway wear without agreeing on the issue for many years to come. Our experience has shown that the sum of multiple factors including asphalt specification, subsoils, roadway base, climate, traffic, and many more variables create impacts to the roads. When all is said and done, how do we quantify the taxpayer savings as related to roadway maintenance budgets? We have monitored communities on both sides of the open/organized ledger and have yet to see a marked difference in dollars spent for repairs and maintenance. We believe working with haulers to establish a comprehensive plan for meeting the needs of sensitive areas within the city would be the best approach to pavement management in New Hope.
Neighborhood Organized Collection: Randy's currently engages with citizen grassroots efforts to organize collection on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis throughout our service area. Our staff is available to discuss any group's needs.
Singe Sided Street Collection: Randy's would be happy to provide any input necessary to create a sustainable plan for single sided collection in New Hope.
ACE's Response to City Council Questions - April 17, 2018
Mr. Alger,
Per the city council’s request at last night’s work shop, Ace Solid Waste offers the following response to the four issues identified regarding waste collection:
LIMITED LICENSES: Ace is, and has been, supportive of municipal ordinances limiting waste hauling licenses, so long as the ordinance isn’t unreasonable and is generally within the contours of other ordinances we have supported, such as Anoka. We would be pleased to work with the city to develop an ordinance or modify an existing ordinance borrowed from another jurisdiction.
SAME-SIDE STREET COLLECTION: Ace has no objection to this concept and would be pleased to work with staff to explore the issue.
NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZED COLLECTION: Ace supports city efforts to promote self-directed organized collection efforts on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis. In fact, we have staff dedicated to assisting citizens in this regard.
PAVEMENT STUDY: While we respect the city’s prerogative to conduct a study, our experience has shown that attempts to quantify savings and benefits have ultimately proven fruitless and have resulted in little more than guesswork. The real data point in this regard is identifiable taxpayer savings with respect to road/bridge maintenance budgets. Our research consistently shows that organized collection cities spend about the same amount of money to maintain their infrastructure as open market cities. Accelerated deterioration is generally the fault of Mother Nature, poor workmanship, and sub-standard construction standards.
City Council Meeting - April 16, 2018
Staff listed several potential goals for the city council to adopt.
Councilmember Eric Lammle stated that a lot of cities are not changing their pavement management program when reducing the number of haulers. If the plan does not change, there is no savings. He asked for additional information on staff as to how or whether the city's pavement management program would in fact change at all. Staff gave a preliminary response that the plan is always evolving depending upon road quality and other factors unrelated to pavement management such as condition of water or sewer pipes underneath the roadway. He also supported reducing the number of licensed haulers through attrition, meaning that when a hauler left the community, or was purchased by a competitor, then that license would be eliminated until the total number of licenses reached a set number. He indicated interest in exploring the idea of having containers placed on one side of the street. He stated that he was able to count votes on the council, and there were not enough votes to eliminate free market hauling in the city. He indicated that he would not vote to start the process of taking over management of trash hauling at this time.
Councilmember Andy Hoffe reiterated his support for the current free open market system.
Councilmember John Elder stated that he supported many of the comments made by councilmember Eric Lammle. He stated that he would not vote to start the process of taking over management of trash hauling at this time.
Councilmember Jonathan London indicated that he was disappointed that other council members chose to listen to the people rather than do what he thought was right. He stated his support for the city to take over management of trash hauling, over the objections of the people.
Mayor Kathi Hemken stated that she had two opinions, her opinion as mayor and her opinion as an individual person. As mayor, she stated that she heard from the people and they do not want government managed trash collection, and that is how she will vote. She indicated that personally, she liked the idea. She stated that her position as mayor is what comes first.
The council directed staff to explore limiting residential licenses to four. This would occur as haulers left the market or were acquired by other haulers. They asked staff to bring back additional information on other issues discussed.
Haulers were invited to provide the council answers to questions raised at the meeting. Mayor Kathi Hemken asked that answers be provided in writing so they could be equally provided to all members of the city council.
Special City Council Meeting - April 2, 2018
The city held a special meeting solely for the purposes of giving an opportunity to all members of the city council to engage in a dialogue with haulers in the city. Haulers in attendance were ACE, Curbside, Randy's, Republic, and Waste Management. Walter's (commercial hauling only in the city) was in attendance and seated in the audience.
Many issues were discussed at the meeting including the hauler's suggestion that the city could reduce almost 50% of vehicle trips by simply requiring residents to place their cans on one side of the street only. The proliferation of delivery trucks, including Amazon, was discussed.
Mayor Kathi Hemken inquired about materials other cities have used to assist residents who wish to have their city block select one hauler. Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice promptly provided materials from another city which provides this information to their residents.
Councilmember Andy Hoffe reiterated his position that residents want the current free market and that he supports the free market.
Special City Council Meeting - March 5, 2018
Meeting between city council and haulers was canceled due to snow storm and rescheduled to April 2, 2018.
City Council Meeting - December 18, 2017
At the December 18, 2017 City Council meeting, Mayor Kathi Hemken stated that she felt that the meeting she attended on November 14, 2017 was very informative. She wanted the other four members of the city council to receive the same information and have an opportunity to participate in a question and answer session with haulers. The decision was made to hold a special meeting for this purpose to be scheduled in early 2018.
Mayor & Staff Meeting with Haulers - November 14, 2017
On November 14, 2017, city staff invited haulers to a question and answer session with city staff. The meeting was led by City Attorney Steve Sondrall. Mayor Kathi Hemken was the only elected official present and indicated that she was there primarily to listen.
Several topics were discussed. They included: Street Damage, Yard Waste & Organics, Cost, Environment & Quality of Life, Complaints & Billing, Benefits, and Drawbacks.
City produced meeting minutes can be found here.
City Council Meeting - October 16, 2017
The council, minus councilmember John Elder, held a lively discussion on the city's efforts to take over management the city's trash system.
Mayor Kathi Hemken complained about getting phone calls on the issue but having no answers. Haulers though have reached out to the city but have been rebuffed by staff every time. Two representatives from haulers operating in New Hope were visibly sitting in the front row in the audience section and not once did Mayor Kathi Hemken ask them any questions.
Mayor Kathi Hemken also accused Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice of lying to citizens of New Hope but provided not one shred of evidence in support.
Councilmember Andy Hoffe asked that any significant decisions be delayed due to councilmember John Elder's absence.
When councilmembers stated that a government takeover of the management of the city's trash system would not be completed until after the 2018 fall elections, councilmember Jonathan London was visibly angered. He is the chief proponent of the city's efforts.
Councilmember Jonathan London made a long and spirited speech complaining about councilmember John Elder being absent from the meeting and stated that since his start on the council, John Elder has missed at least 10% of the meetings. He stated that he felt this was a delay tactic and openly questioned whether John Elder was doing this intentionally as a ploy to stretch this process out through the 2018 election.
Councilmember Jonathan London is up for reelection in the fall of 2018. Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice has a long and successful track record of involvement in city council elections. City emails show that staff and council members are well aware of this.
Councilmembers directed staff to establish a timeline for starting the takeover of the city's trash system. This timeline will be brought back to the council at some future time for approval.
Mayor Kathi Hemken warned councilmembers that they were being recorded by a private camera operator in the room. This council meeting was one of many that they intentionally hold off camera, out of the council chambers, and off of cable TV.
Shortly after councilmembers moved onto the next agenda, Mayor Kathy Hemken quipped that there might be another mailing from Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice forthcoming.
Read: October 16, 2017 Meeting Transcript
City Council Meeting - September 25, 2017 - Bait n' Switch
The city council pulled a classic “bait n’ switch” tactic at this city council meeting. Instead of voting to keep the city's open garbage collection system where residents retain the right to pick their own hauler, the council voted to move forward on city managed trash collection.
The meeting agenda stated:
8.1 Motion maintaining city’s open garbage collection system
Instead, councilmember John Elder brought forward a surprise motion stating:
“I will make a motion to send this item back to staff to continue to work on getting us further details on how organized garbage collection would impact our community. I’d entertain a second.”
It was quickly seconded by council member Eric Lammle, and was approved by the council minutes later.
Both Mayor Kathi Hemken and councilmember John Elder attempted to explain away their earlier comments when they flip-flopped and voted to continue moving forward with the city's plan of taking over management of the trash system, after stating exactly the opposite a week earlier.
Read: September 25, 2017 Meeting Transcript
City Council Meeting - September 18, 2017
At the city council meeting, staff reviewed survey results and citizen comments from the August 7th meeting. Even though staff put out false information about the issue, and then asked residents to respond to a poll which was skewed to support the city's efforts to take over management of the trash system, the majority of residents who responded were still in opposition to the city's efforts.
Mayor Kathi Hemken and councilmembers John Elder and Andy Hoffe all clearly stated that they would be voting on the 25th to keep the city’s open garbage collection system, and freedom of choice.
Read: September 18, 2017 Meeting Transcript
City Council meeting - January 22, 2019
Mayor Kathi Hemken, and councilmembers John Elder and Andy Hoffe led the effort to set aside the discussion of government managed trash collection for the near future.
Members of the council stated that they would continue to monitor neighboring cities and could bring the issue forward again in the future if there were new developments. It was noted that the next neighboring city to discuss this issue would be the City of Golden Valley and at present they were not interested in government managed trash collection.
Councilmembers noted that residents raised concerns about being charged for service when they were out of town or if they generated little waste and disposed of trash on their own or through sharing services. Under a government managed trash collection system, typically everyone is forced to pay for service even if they are out of town for months at a time or if they generate little to no trash of their own.
Councilmember Andy Hoffe stated that the council has taken action on this issue by limiting the number of licensed haulers to four, which will be reduced by attrition. This action was taken by the city council in 2018.
Councilmember Jonathan London accepted the decision of the majority but was displeased and complained throughout the discussion.
Prior to the start of the meeting, councilmember Jonathan London confronted a member of GHCC, accusing the organization of rigging trash hauling laws against the city at the legislature in 2018. City government lobbying organizations raised no concerns about changes to trash hauling laws enacted in 2018. During this discussion, he again reiterated that he was the smartest member of the city council. At previous meetings he has called the Mayor and other city councilmembers liars and ignorant.
Randy's Environmental Services Response to City Council Questions - April 20, 2018
Mr. Alger,
At the April 16, 2018 workshop the city requested input on four specific waste collection topics. Randy's Environmental Services offers the following comment.
Hauler Licenses: Randy's has suggested publicly for several years that limiting waste hauling licenses is an effective method of providing a balance between the free enterprise system and responsible city management. It is important to be thoughtful when limiting licensing within a community so as not to inhibit competition. We believe that competition in the marketplace stimulates innovation, and ultimately yields better service for the community. Randy's would be happy to work with the city to find that balance.
Roadway Study: We appreciate the cities willingness to take the time and effort to study roadway deterioration. Engineering experts have and will debate the cause of roadway wear without agreeing on the issue for many years to come. Our experience has shown that the sum of multiple factors including asphalt specification, subsoils, roadway base, climate, traffic, and many more variables create impacts to the roads. When all is said and done, how do we quantify the taxpayer savings as related to roadway maintenance budgets? We have monitored communities on both sides of the open/organized ledger and have yet to see a marked difference in dollars spent for repairs and maintenance. We believe working with haulers to establish a comprehensive plan for meeting the needs of sensitive areas within the city would be the best approach to pavement management in New Hope.
Neighborhood Organized Collection: Randy's currently engages with citizen grassroots efforts to organize collection on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis throughout our service area. Our staff is available to discuss any group's needs.
Singe Sided Street Collection: Randy's would be happy to provide any input necessary to create a sustainable plan for single sided collection in New Hope.
ACE's Response to City Council Questions - April 17, 2018
Mr. Alger,
Per the city council’s request at last night’s work shop, Ace Solid Waste offers the following response to the four issues identified regarding waste collection:
LIMITED LICENSES: Ace is, and has been, supportive of municipal ordinances limiting waste hauling licenses, so long as the ordinance isn’t unreasonable and is generally within the contours of other ordinances we have supported, such as Anoka. We would be pleased to work with the city to develop an ordinance or modify an existing ordinance borrowed from another jurisdiction.
SAME-SIDE STREET COLLECTION: Ace has no objection to this concept and would be pleased to work with staff to explore the issue.
NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZED COLLECTION: Ace supports city efforts to promote self-directed organized collection efforts on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis. In fact, we have staff dedicated to assisting citizens in this regard.
PAVEMENT STUDY: While we respect the city’s prerogative to conduct a study, our experience has shown that attempts to quantify savings and benefits have ultimately proven fruitless and have resulted in little more than guesswork. The real data point in this regard is identifiable taxpayer savings with respect to road/bridge maintenance budgets. Our research consistently shows that organized collection cities spend about the same amount of money to maintain their infrastructure as open market cities. Accelerated deterioration is generally the fault of Mother Nature, poor workmanship, and sub-standard construction standards.
City Council Meeting - April 16, 2018
Staff listed several potential goals for the city council to adopt.
Councilmember Eric Lammle stated that a lot of cities are not changing their pavement management program when reducing the number of haulers. If the plan does not change, there is no savings. He asked for additional information on staff as to how or whether the city's pavement management program would in fact change at all. Staff gave a preliminary response that the plan is always evolving depending upon road quality and other factors unrelated to pavement management such as condition of water or sewer pipes underneath the roadway. He also supported reducing the number of licensed haulers through attrition, meaning that when a hauler left the community, or was purchased by a competitor, then that license would be eliminated until the total number of licenses reached a set number. He indicated interest in exploring the idea of having containers placed on one side of the street. He stated that he was able to count votes on the council, and there were not enough votes to eliminate free market hauling in the city. He indicated that he would not vote to start the process of taking over management of trash hauling at this time.
Councilmember Andy Hoffe reiterated his support for the current free open market system.
Councilmember John Elder stated that he supported many of the comments made by councilmember Eric Lammle. He stated that he would not vote to start the process of taking over management of trash hauling at this time.
Councilmember Jonathan London indicated that he was disappointed that other council members chose to listen to the people rather than do what he thought was right. He stated his support for the city to take over management of trash hauling, over the objections of the people.
Mayor Kathi Hemken stated that she had two opinions, her opinion as mayor and her opinion as an individual person. As mayor, she stated that she heard from the people and they do not want government managed trash collection, and that is how she will vote. She indicated that personally, she liked the idea. She stated that her position as mayor is what comes first.
The council directed staff to explore limiting residential licenses to four. This would occur as haulers left the market or were acquired by other haulers. They asked staff to bring back additional information on other issues discussed.
Haulers were invited to provide the council answers to questions raised at the meeting. Mayor Kathi Hemken asked that answers be provided in writing so they could be equally provided to all members of the city council.
Special City Council Meeting - April 2, 2018
The city held a special meeting solely for the purposes of giving an opportunity to all members of the city council to engage in a dialogue with haulers in the city. Haulers in attendance were ACE, Curbside, Randy's, Republic, and Waste Management. Walter's (commercial hauling only in the city) was in attendance and seated in the audience.
Many issues were discussed at the meeting including the hauler's suggestion that the city could reduce almost 50% of vehicle trips by simply requiring residents to place their cans on one side of the street only. The proliferation of delivery trucks, including Amazon, was discussed.
Mayor Kathi Hemken inquired about materials other cities have used to assist residents who wish to have their city block select one hauler. Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice promptly provided materials from another city which provides this information to their residents.
Councilmember Andy Hoffe reiterated his position that residents want the current free market and that he supports the free market.
Special City Council Meeting - March 5, 2018
Meeting between city council and haulers was canceled due to snow storm and rescheduled to April 2, 2018.
City Council Meeting - December 18, 2017
At the December 18, 2017 City Council meeting, Mayor Kathi Hemken stated that she felt that the meeting she attended on November 14, 2017 was very informative. She wanted the other four members of the city council to receive the same information and have an opportunity to participate in a question and answer session with haulers. The decision was made to hold a special meeting for this purpose to be scheduled in early 2018.
Mayor & Staff Meeting with Haulers - November 14, 2017
On November 14, 2017, city staff invited haulers to a question and answer session with city staff. The meeting was led by City Attorney Steve Sondrall. Mayor Kathi Hemken was the only elected official present and indicated that she was there primarily to listen.
Several topics were discussed. They included: Street Damage, Yard Waste & Organics, Cost, Environment & Quality of Life, Complaints & Billing, Benefits, and Drawbacks.
City produced meeting minutes can be found here.
City Council Meeting - October 16, 2017
The council, minus councilmember John Elder, held a lively discussion on the city's efforts to take over management the city's trash system.
Mayor Kathi Hemken complained about getting phone calls on the issue but having no answers. Haulers though have reached out to the city but have been rebuffed by staff every time. Two representatives from haulers operating in New Hope were visibly sitting in the front row in the audience section and not once did Mayor Kathi Hemken ask them any questions.
Mayor Kathi Hemken also accused Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice of lying to citizens of New Hope but provided not one shred of evidence in support.
Councilmember Andy Hoffe asked that any significant decisions be delayed due to councilmember John Elder's absence.
When councilmembers stated that a government takeover of the management of the city's trash system would not be completed until after the 2018 fall elections, councilmember Jonathan London was visibly angered. He is the chief proponent of the city's efforts.
Councilmember Jonathan London made a long and spirited speech complaining about councilmember John Elder being absent from the meeting and stated that since his start on the council, John Elder has missed at least 10% of the meetings. He stated that he felt this was a delay tactic and openly questioned whether John Elder was doing this intentionally as a ploy to stretch this process out through the 2018 election.
Councilmember Jonathan London is up for reelection in the fall of 2018. Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice has a long and successful track record of involvement in city council elections. City emails show that staff and council members are well aware of this.
Councilmembers directed staff to establish a timeline for starting the takeover of the city's trash system. This timeline will be brought back to the council at some future time for approval.
Mayor Kathi Hemken warned councilmembers that they were being recorded by a private camera operator in the room. This council meeting was one of many that they intentionally hold off camera, out of the council chambers, and off of cable TV.
Shortly after councilmembers moved onto the next agenda, Mayor Kathy Hemken quipped that there might be another mailing from Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice forthcoming.
Read: October 16, 2017 Meeting Transcript
City Council Meeting - September 25, 2017 - Bait n' Switch
The city council pulled a classic “bait n’ switch” tactic at this city council meeting. Instead of voting to keep the city's open garbage collection system where residents retain the right to pick their own hauler, the council voted to move forward on city managed trash collection.
The meeting agenda stated:
8.1 Motion maintaining city’s open garbage collection system
Instead, councilmember John Elder brought forward a surprise motion stating:
“I will make a motion to send this item back to staff to continue to work on getting us further details on how organized garbage collection would impact our community. I’d entertain a second.”
It was quickly seconded by council member Eric Lammle, and was approved by the council minutes later.
Both Mayor Kathi Hemken and councilmember John Elder attempted to explain away their earlier comments when they flip-flopped and voted to continue moving forward with the city's plan of taking over management of the trash system, after stating exactly the opposite a week earlier.
Read: September 25, 2017 Meeting Transcript
City Council Meeting - September 18, 2017
At the city council meeting, staff reviewed survey results and citizen comments from the August 7th meeting. Even though staff put out false information about the issue, and then asked residents to respond to a poll which was skewed to support the city's efforts to take over management of the trash system, the majority of residents who responded were still in opposition to the city's efforts.
Mayor Kathi Hemken and councilmembers John Elder and Andy Hoffe all clearly stated that they would be voting on the 25th to keep the city’s open garbage collection system, and freedom of choice.
Read: September 18, 2017 Meeting Transcript

Town Hall Meeting - August 7, 2017
Opponents of the city's attempt to take over management of the trash system was met with overwhelming opposition from residents.
Opponents outnumbered supporters by over 5 to 1. The mayor choose to alternate between supporters and opponents when accepting comments from the public. By the half way point of the meeting, there were no more supporters left to speak. Opponents spoke for the entire second half of the meeting.
The city council chambers were filled to capacity. The overflow room was full. Some residents had to stand in the lobby.
Read: August 7, 2017 Meeting Transcript
City of New Hope Uses Outdated and Misleading Information to Justify Taking Away Your Right to Choose Your Own Hauler
For the past three months, the City of New Hope has been sending residents outdated and misleading information about trash hauling and the impact on the community.
Their goal is to convince you that it is a good idea to give up your right to choose your own hauler.
They peddle the false myth that with government managed trash collection you will see improve roads, safety, reduced pollution, and lower prices for all.
Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice (GHCC) would like to share just a few of the whoppers being told by City Hall, and what other city officials have to say.
Misleading Road Damage Photo
In the city’s brochure, they include this photo (right) and imply that this was caused by garbage trucks. This is false and misleading.
Both photos show what MnDOT calls “delamination”. The Roseville City Council discussed this issue on April 13, 2015 (see report). Public Works Director Duane Schwartz noted that this has been a problem around the metro area and the state. He reports that MnDOT researchers have determined it is related to poor field construction methods related to road seal coating. It was not caused by any type of vehicles. Schwartz informed the council that it is affecting roadways that were reconstructed in the late 80’s and 90’s and began appearing 15 years later.
Roseville temporarily discontinued seal coating as a result and is currently looking for alternative solutions. The city's Public Works Citizen Advisory Commission plans on discussing the issue at their August 2017 meeting.
The Star Tribune also covered the issue focusing on the City of Woodbury having to spend $20 million to fix crumbling street pavement that relied on a state formula for mixing blacktop, one of at least 35 Minnesota cities and counties reporting such problems. (see article)
Opponents of the city's attempt to take over management of the trash system was met with overwhelming opposition from residents.
Opponents outnumbered supporters by over 5 to 1. The mayor choose to alternate between supporters and opponents when accepting comments from the public. By the half way point of the meeting, there were no more supporters left to speak. Opponents spoke for the entire second half of the meeting.
The city council chambers were filled to capacity. The overflow room was full. Some residents had to stand in the lobby.
Read: August 7, 2017 Meeting Transcript
City of New Hope Uses Outdated and Misleading Information to Justify Taking Away Your Right to Choose Your Own Hauler
For the past three months, the City of New Hope has been sending residents outdated and misleading information about trash hauling and the impact on the community.
Their goal is to convince you that it is a good idea to give up your right to choose your own hauler.
They peddle the false myth that with government managed trash collection you will see improve roads, safety, reduced pollution, and lower prices for all.
Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice (GHCC) would like to share just a few of the whoppers being told by City Hall, and what other city officials have to say.
Misleading Road Damage Photo
In the city’s brochure, they include this photo (right) and imply that this was caused by garbage trucks. This is false and misleading.
Both photos show what MnDOT calls “delamination”. The Roseville City Council discussed this issue on April 13, 2015 (see report). Public Works Director Duane Schwartz noted that this has been a problem around the metro area and the state. He reports that MnDOT researchers have determined it is related to poor field construction methods related to road seal coating. It was not caused by any type of vehicles. Schwartz informed the council that it is affecting roadways that were reconstructed in the late 80’s and 90’s and began appearing 15 years later.
Roseville temporarily discontinued seal coating as a result and is currently looking for alternative solutions. The city's Public Works Citizen Advisory Commission plans on discussing the issue at their August 2017 meeting.
The Star Tribune also covered the issue focusing on the City of Woodbury having to spend $20 million to fix crumbling street pavement that relied on a state formula for mixing blacktop, one of at least 35 Minnesota cities and counties reporting such problems. (see article)

Myth of Garbage Truck Road Damage
Underfunded Road Maintenance Budget and No Scales in Fort Collins, CO
In the city’s brochure, they use an outdated 2008 street maintenance study from Fort Collins, Colorado (see report) to support the claim that roads in New Hope are being destroyed by garbage trucks.
First, it was a study paid for by government, to a government consultant, to support the creation of a new government program.
Second, unlike the Hennepin County garbage burning plant, the Larimer County (Fort Collins) landfill does not have scales to weigh trucks. No one in that city checks truck weights.
Third, concerning proper funding of street maintenance, the Fort Collins report states, “The 2008 budget is more than $1 million less than that required to maintain streets at their current level while the 2009 budget is more than $2.5 million less than required.” The city underfunds a proper road repair budget and then goes looking for someone else to blame.
Bloomington Public Works Director Found No Savings
A more honest answer on whether government managed trash collection will reduce road maintenance can be found from Bloomington Public Works Director Karl Keel. In his report to the city council, he stated, “The reduction of garbage trucks realized by organizing collection...would not likely have a noticeable impact on actual safety or result in the need for less roadway maintenance.” (see comments)
Underfunded Road Maintenance Budget and No Scales in Fort Collins, CO
In the city’s brochure, they use an outdated 2008 street maintenance study from Fort Collins, Colorado (see report) to support the claim that roads in New Hope are being destroyed by garbage trucks.
First, it was a study paid for by government, to a government consultant, to support the creation of a new government program.
Second, unlike the Hennepin County garbage burning plant, the Larimer County (Fort Collins) landfill does not have scales to weigh trucks. No one in that city checks truck weights.
Third, concerning proper funding of street maintenance, the Fort Collins report states, “The 2008 budget is more than $1 million less than that required to maintain streets at their current level while the 2009 budget is more than $2.5 million less than required.” The city underfunds a proper road repair budget and then goes looking for someone else to blame.
Bloomington Public Works Director Found No Savings
A more honest answer on whether government managed trash collection will reduce road maintenance can be found from Bloomington Public Works Director Karl Keel. In his report to the city council, he stated, “The reduction of garbage trucks realized by organizing collection...would not likely have a noticeable impact on actual safety or result in the need for less roadway maintenance.” (see comments)
City of Fridley Rejected Government Managed Trash Collection
The 2014 Fridley study promoted by New Hope, which claims that garbage trucks shortened the life of city streets by 17.9%, did not convince the Fridley City Council to take away citizens right to choose their own hauler. There are several reasons why.
A review of this Fridley study showed that a majority of the roads in the city were built to low load limits. There were also questions as to how cheaply roads were originally constructed and whether they had been properly maintained. It was also noted that the study assumed that the garbage trucks would be full all of the time. A completely unreasonable scenario. (see comments)
The estimated cost savings of reduced garbage trucks, even if the flawed numbers were assumed to be correct, only existed in a mathematical and theoretical laboratory setting. The study was entirely based upon a numbers formula, with no actual research done in the field.
Furthermore, at a Fridley meeting where GHCC members were in attendance, staff was pressed as to what the actual "real world" road repair savings would be. Staff said they did not know, had no guess, and had no way of measuring it.
The 2014 Fridley study promoted by New Hope, which claims that garbage trucks shortened the life of city streets by 17.9%, did not convince the Fridley City Council to take away citizens right to choose their own hauler. There are several reasons why.
A review of this Fridley study showed that a majority of the roads in the city were built to low load limits. There were also questions as to how cheaply roads were originally constructed and whether they had been properly maintained. It was also noted that the study assumed that the garbage trucks would be full all of the time. A completely unreasonable scenario. (see comments)
The estimated cost savings of reduced garbage trucks, even if the flawed numbers were assumed to be correct, only existed in a mathematical and theoretical laboratory setting. The study was entirely based upon a numbers formula, with no actual research done in the field.
Furthermore, at a Fridley meeting where GHCC members were in attendance, staff was pressed as to what the actual "real world" road repair savings would be. Staff said they did not know, had no guess, and had no way of measuring it.
Noise and Smelly Emissions Myths
Due to direct competition between garbage haulers under the open free market system, stinky noisy diesel trucks are almost a thing of the past. In just the past few years, they have been replaced by clean burning natural gas.
Most haulers have fully converted, or are in the process of converting to 100% natural gas vehicles. They are quieter and cleaner burning then your passenger automobile. Plus natural gas is a locally sourced fuel that is found here in the United States and Canada.
It is not surprising that school buses continue to burn diesel and are some of the more stinky and noisy vehicles on the road. Most are owned by government. There is little incentive to convert to more environmentally friendly and lower cost natural gas vehicles.
Due to direct competition between garbage haulers under the open free market system, stinky noisy diesel trucks are almost a thing of the past. In just the past few years, they have been replaced by clean burning natural gas.
Most haulers have fully converted, or are in the process of converting to 100% natural gas vehicles. They are quieter and cleaner burning then your passenger automobile. Plus natural gas is a locally sourced fuel that is found here in the United States and Canada.
It is not surprising that school buses continue to burn diesel and are some of the more stinky and noisy vehicles on the road. Most are owned by government. There is little incentive to convert to more environmentally friendly and lower cost natural gas vehicles.
Fear Mongering and False Claims About Garbage Truck Safety
New Hope claimed in their letter to citizens that there is, "a higher potential for accidents" if residents are allowed to pick their own hauler. The same fear mongering occurred in Bloomington.
GHCC decided to review Bloomington police reports dating back 10+ years to see if this was true. The number of garbage trucks involved in accidents was not surprising. The number was zero.
City vehicles were another story. During this same time period, the number of city vehicle accidents was startling. Over 100+ accidents during the same time frame. Three accidents with bicyclists. City employees crashing while operating phones and computers. Employees rear ended numerous vehicles, one drove into a lake, and another crashed into his own personal vehicle with a city vehicle. (see comments)
In Bloomington, residents should fear city employees driving city vehicles, not garbage trucks.
Garbage truck drivers operate under some of the strictest safety standards. They have mandatory training and drug testing. When they shift their vehicle into reverse, radios automatically turn off, backup cameras and sound warnings turn on. Smoking in vehicles is not allowed. Cell phone use is prohibited. Drinking and driving, even off the job, results in termination of employment and can lead to a permanent ban on driving trucks in the US.
New Hope claimed in their letter to citizens that there is, "a higher potential for accidents" if residents are allowed to pick their own hauler. The same fear mongering occurred in Bloomington.
GHCC decided to review Bloomington police reports dating back 10+ years to see if this was true. The number of garbage trucks involved in accidents was not surprising. The number was zero.
City vehicles were another story. During this same time period, the number of city vehicle accidents was startling. Over 100+ accidents during the same time frame. Three accidents with bicyclists. City employees crashing while operating phones and computers. Employees rear ended numerous vehicles, one drove into a lake, and another crashed into his own personal vehicle with a city vehicle. (see comments)
In Bloomington, residents should fear city employees driving city vehicles, not garbage trucks.
Garbage truck drivers operate under some of the strictest safety standards. They have mandatory training and drug testing. When they shift their vehicle into reverse, radios automatically turn off, backup cameras and sound warnings turn on. Smoking in vehicles is not allowed. Cell phone use is prohibited. Drinking and driving, even off the job, results in termination of employment and can lead to a permanent ban on driving trucks in the US.
Pricing Myths
Garbage service is no different than lawn, plumbing, electrical, car repair, or legal services. Buyers have the option to shop to compare prices and services, and pick the provider that best fits their need.
In every city that has proposed government managed trash collection, there will be many that will be forced to pay more, will pay for services that they do not need, and many will have to pay additional for some services that were previously included in with their old service.
With government managed trash collection, the city tells you what hauler you must use, what services you will get, what services you have to pay extra for, and what you must pay overall. Typically, the city also orders everyone to have service, even if you do not need it.
In many communities, senior citizens who used to share trash service are forced to have their own service and pay more. Those who may vacation for the winter are also forced to pay for service they cannot use.
Under an free market open system, the hauler is responsible for bad customer debt. With government managed trash collection, if someone does not pay their bill, the rest of the taxpayers are stuck with the bad debt, as the hauler is guaranteed payment by the city.
Updated 1/26/19
Garbage service is no different than lawn, plumbing, electrical, car repair, or legal services. Buyers have the option to shop to compare prices and services, and pick the provider that best fits their need.
In every city that has proposed government managed trash collection, there will be many that will be forced to pay more, will pay for services that they do not need, and many will have to pay additional for some services that were previously included in with their old service.
With government managed trash collection, the city tells you what hauler you must use, what services you will get, what services you have to pay extra for, and what you must pay overall. Typically, the city also orders everyone to have service, even if you do not need it.
In many communities, senior citizens who used to share trash service are forced to have their own service and pay more. Those who may vacation for the winter are also forced to pay for service they cannot use.
Under an free market open system, the hauler is responsible for bad customer debt. With government managed trash collection, if someone does not pay their bill, the rest of the taxpayers are stuck with the bad debt, as the hauler is guaranteed payment by the city.
Updated 1/26/19