News Central 4
Businesses in Brownsville will soon start to see a different company collecting their trash. But this change hasn't come without pushback.
Although Texas state law doesn't require it, Brownsville’s city manager tells CBS 4 they decided to backtrack on choosing the city's next commercial trash pick-up service after one of three companies wanted the city to reconsider its original decision.
Brownsville business owners, like Dante Pensa and all other businesses across the city, get their trash picked-up four days a week from a company called G.M.S.
"If we weren't able to have that type of service, it would really mess-up the flow," Pensa said.
Since March, city commissioners voted to contract with a different company called Republic Services.
"While the city had already made a decision, it was being protested by one of the vendors," said Noel Bernal, Brownsville’s City Manager.
A third company, called Red Fish, protested the city’s decision. The city then had to repeal the entire process.
"[It then enabled] me as the city manager to be authorized to directly negotiate," Bernal said.
The city says it’s been trying to contract with Republic Services, the same company that picks up trash at homes for trash collection at businesses. However, because of delays in hiring a new city manager, it wasn't until this year that it was then determined G.M.S. might not continue as Brownville’s commercial trash pick-up.
The city says it hopes to have a seamless transition to the new commercial trash pick-up service.
Brownsville city commissioners will bring the vendor of their choice for consideration on May 7 during their next city commissioners meeting.