Most, or about 67 percent, of those responding to the Argus-Courier online poll, disagreed with the city’s decision to negotiate a new garbage hauling contract without seeking relief for ratepayers. About 76 percent also thought that the city should wait and open the contract to competitive bidders in three years, when the contract expires. Here were some of the comments.

“You’re not going to get something for nothing. What is really behind the garbage hauler’s offer? What’s to prevent the contractor from requesting a rate hike in a year or so? And if they don’t get the rate hike they’ll just give the contract to another contractor, or worse just not pick up garbage.”

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“Depends how the city is going to waste it. Oops, I mean spend it.”

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“Leave it to the city to screw up garbage service.”

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“Terribly written questions!”

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“What will be the council’s plan for the money the city will get? Appears they already have a track record of wasting money on “studies” and delays on issues around town. Garbage contract was accepted when signed — abide by it!”

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“The city didn’t even conduct annual audits as required of Ratto’s operations here. Why should we trust them to work out some deal behind closed doors that would actually benefit ratepayers, our economy and the environment? Where’s the oversight? Monopoly contracts where we have no choice on paying the bills are notoriously prone to corruption, poor money management, excess profits and failed services. One of the most significant controls on that is open public bidding. What’s wrong with that? Our charter requires it, and the city has tried to sneak around that with a sweetheart deal with Ratto on promises that more ratepayer money would go to the city. This stinks, just like the garbage. Bad news is coming for ratepayers unless we change direction and open the bidding in sunlight. Too bad that some council members don’t believe in that. Who are they working for, anyway?”

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“Here again the corporate power is telling the morons at city hall what to do and how to do it. A contract was signed; now they want to redo it. Sounds like a sports team member. How dare they.”