The City of Odessa is currently paying for a decision to be “penny wise” not only monetarily, but when it comes to providing essential garbage services, said City Manager John Beckmeyer.
Odessans are only getting their trash picked up once a week instead of the normal twice a week because 18 out of 38 trucks are currently out of service, according to records obtained by the Odessa American through the Texas Public Information Act.
“I believe that people wanted to look like they were saving money and instead of replacing trucks at the end of their true useful life, they extended it out and now we have trouble providing services,” Beckmeyer said. “It looks good for the short term, but in the long-end, it ends up costing the city more…It was penny wise and pound foolish. It’s defeating. It’s not smart.”
Some years ago, Beckmeyer said garbage trucks were replaced every four to five years and the decision was made to extend that time period to eight to nine years and now those trucks are breaking down.
The biggest problem right now is finding power takeoffs for the trucks, which control things like the doors and the tilt function, Beckmeyer said.
In fact, Beckmeyer said some drivers were also going without air conditioning last summer when temperatures were well over 100 degrees.
Equipment services director Chris Adams has been trying to find the necessary parts to fix the issues, but there’s a nationwide shortage, Beckmeyer said.
According to records obtained by the OA, as of Dec. 1, one truck was waiting on a vendor to rebuild a hydraulic pump because no new or already rebuilt pumps were available nationwide.
At the same time, another three trucks were waiting on parts, four trucks were waiting to be diagnosed and two other trucks were waiting on a dealer or vendor to repair.
“The good news is Chris has found trucks that have more common parts which are easier to get and we’ll put them back on the four to five-year life expectancy,” Beckmeyer said.
The city has ordered one roll-off for $225,000 and seven side loaders for $316,000 apiece or roughly $2.2 million, said City spokeswoman Monica McDaniel.
“We are expecting them at various times during the first quarter. Once they arrive we should have them in service within 7-10 days,” McDaniel said.
Beckmeyer said the new trucks were already figured into the FY23-24 budget.
Knowing that with the holidays, residents’ trash bins will be overflowing, Beckmeyer said the city set up open top containers in all five city districts.
McDaniel said Jathan Escontrias, solid waste operations manager explained the locations were chosen based on the curbside rollout cart service areas and easiest access locations in each of the districts.
