Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Feb 05/99) - Inuvik town council voted to extend the town's garbage collection contract by six months just prior to its Jan. 31 expiry, but possible changes to the tendering contract could mean the town will assume garbage collection duties.

Director of public services, John Bulmer, says he has received complaints from several residents who say their garbage has been left uncollected and want to know why.

Not only has he been seeking a resolution to the problem but he told council just before the six-month contract extension that he was aiming for better communication with Bob's Welding, which currently holds the contract.

"Right now it's a fairly loosely-worded contract," Bulmer says.

"We're looking at getting the contractor to assume more responsibility for the operations of his crew."

Bulmer says a tender for contract will be put out in mid to late February and there is a possibility the town itself could assume responsibilities.

"It could be possible for the town to bid on the contract but that would require buying a $150,000 to $200,000 truck," he says.

Meanwhile, Lyle Gully of Bob's Welding, says he wants to continue garbage collection as usual and he says many of the residents' complaints stem from impeded access to garbage bins.

"Homeowners have the garbage containers and it's their responsibility to maintain them," he says.

"Right now we're getting a lot of complaints (from drivers) that there's snow piled up in front of the garbage cans and they can't be dumped. It's not my concern to go around town and shovel driveways."

Gully says his workers are on a tight schedule which they try to follow.

Though Bulmer says he has fielded several complaints about garbage collectors leaving garbage strewn around near the bins, Gully says extremely cold weather is the villain.

"The wet stuff tends to freeze into the box. When we go to dump the garbage it would be nice if the garbage could just fall out. A lot of times you've got to give it a little bang to loosen up the garbage inside and get it into the compactor," he says.

Gully also blames ravens for scattering waste after residents fail to close their dumpster lids.

For row houses, Gully says there should be one garbage bin for every four units, but sometimes there is one dumpster per eight units. That also adds to overflow problems.

"Accommodate your residents' needs," he says as advice for all apartment and row house landlords.

For residents, he asks people to keep the garbage cans clear of vehicles and snow and after a heavy snowfall, keep a clear access to the bins. That way they will be ensured regular pick-up.