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Garbage cans will sit idle
Published Friday, November 16, 2007
It was supposed to quicker and more efficient, but in reality, the city’s 2007 side-loading garbage truck turned out to be something of a headache.
Numerous 300-gallon light-weight plastic tubs, at a cost of $87,000, were purchased by the city earlier this year to replace steel commercial dumpsters, allowing the city to move to automated collection of commercial garbage. Efficiency was the goal, City Operations Manager Steve Hames said. It takes one person rather than two to collect the trash with the new system, freeing up staff for other duties.
All that was needed to complete the picture was the $200,000 side-loader, purchased from McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing of Dodge Center. It didn’t take long after its June delivery, however, to see that something was wrong.
The truck didn’t work as expected and it was determined the wrong grabber had been installed on the truck.
“It took those 300-gallon containers and turned them into pretzels,” Hames said. “They’re 4 feet in diameter and (the truck) turned them into 2 feet diameter.”
Also, 65- and 95-gallon receptacles slipped from the truck. At one point, the 300-gallon tubs fell into the hopper and the 65-gallon tubs slipped down to the wheels.
Several attempts were made by McNeilus to fix the truck — all unsuccessful.
“They really did everything they could,” Hames said. “They have good trucks. Their back-loaders are real good. The side loaders are new and haven’t been perfected yet.”
McNeilus Truck did not return Daily Journal calls by press time.
Eventually, the vehicle was returned to the company and it didn’t cost the city a cent. The new cans can always be sold, Russ Bye, city fleet manager, said.
“We hope it doesn’t come to that,” he said, “but we have an out if it does.”
The search is on for a new truck, which could be a challenge.
“Only a couple of manufacturers make the side-loading kind,” Hames said.
Until then, the metal dumpsters and back-loading trucks are still in use.
The 300-gallon light-weight plastic tubs are tucked away in the city garage.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by eripsni (anonymous) on November 16, 2007 at 1:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice work, Sherlock! The cans in the picture are outside, yet the articles tells us they are tucked away in the city garage....hmm...
Posted by Kurtisishere (anonymous) on November 16, 2007 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmmm...Let's see. $87,000.00 for 300 garbage cans. That's $290.00 each! What a rip off! Good luck trying to sell those bad boys. Which came first, the garbage truck or the cans? From the sound of this article the cans came first. Since efficiency was the goal wouldn't it have been more efficient to get the truck first, and then get cans to fit it? Wow somebody should be embarrassed!
Posted by James (anonymous) on November 16, 2007 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The writing is clunky and needs an editor, but this seems like an actual attempt at journalism. Is the local paper taking a step forward? Please say it's so.
Posted by jafo (anonymous) on November 16, 2007 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What! It will take one person instead of two to empty the commercial dumpsters??? I've seen commercial dumpsters dumped thousands of times... 99% of the time, there is one guy. ???? I call BS.
Posted by jamieann (anonymous) on November 16, 2007 at 4:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't forget the cans that got "pretzeled". Bet they cant be used no less sold. Wonder how many of those got the crunch.
Posted by misadventurer (anonymous) on November 16, 2007 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It would seem as if the tub manufacturer may know where their products are being used successfully. Maybe a little time on the phone would lead right to someone who has the complete system up and working........
Posted by susan22mn (anonymous) on November 16, 2007 at 6:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel badly for the people who lost their jobs as a result of this great move towards efficiency...
Posted by chipmunk (anonymous) on November 16, 2007 at 8:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder how many mosquitoes we could kill for $87,000.00
Posted by stinky (anonymous) on November 17, 2007 at 1:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There is a typo in the first sentence of this article.
It was supposed to "be" quicker.................etc
For the doofus and by the doofus.
Posted by bobcaters (anonymous) on November 17, 2007 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with jafo- I have never witnessed two workers emptying a commercial dumpster!
In addition to putting the cart in front of the horse (so to speak) the city fleet mgr. and his possy have actullay created more refuse!
As Bill Engvall would say...HERE'S YOUR SIGN!
Posted by toad3 (anonymous) on November 17, 2007 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That is why they can't afford to clean the streets!
Posted by frankenfurter (anonymous) on November 17, 2007 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually they're quite efficient. The side loading container system has been in use throughout the twin cities and all the suburbs for MANY years now.
The city of FF must have gone with a bum company to get their equipment.
But I'll still sit back and laugh because even with your municipal garbage service, we still pay less than you.
Posted by formerFFres (anonymous) on November 17, 2007 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the side-load system IS very efficeint in garbage removal and I am qualified to say so!!
I have operated a auto-mated side loader for over 10 years and yes there is two dufferent size off "arms" to use for the carts. Someone just does not know either A- how to order them or B- how to adjust the pressure of the clamping. Someone with the city needs to do some homework because this system has been operating for over 10 years no farther away than Alexandria.
Using this system in a "city area" I myself have been able to dump over 700 accounts a day and handle over 13 tons of garbage on said days!!
So before you condemn a system or use it research from an operating business!! DUH!! OK?
Posted by jafo (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
700 dumps per day?? That's one every 45 seconds! Just driving around to the back of the businesses, and getting into position would take more time than that. Mmmm, 13 tons in 700 accounts equals 37 pounds per... ahh, you have a residential route. This story is about the 300 gallon commercial dumpsters. I think the residential side-loader has been working well. And, btw, I don't think the condemnation is so much for the system, but rather that the city and/or the supplier just can't make it work.
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