Nov. 5--Residents of Springdale could be paying less for garbage collection next year.

Council President Jason Fry said yesterday that rates could be lowered because the borough will use a new hauler that charges less than the current provider.

The borough charges each household $15 per month for refuse collection. Fry couldn't estimate how much lower rates might be and stopped short of saying they definitely would be reduced.

Council agreed to a five-year contract last night with Shank Sanitation of Lower Burrell. The borough will pay Shank about $980,000 over the life of the agreement.

In the last year of the contract, the borough will pay Shank slightly less than $205,000. The borough will have paid Waste Management slightly more than $205,000 for this year, borough officials said.

This is the final year of the borough's three-year contract with Waste Management, the officials said.

Officials estimated that the borough will save more than $65,000 over the next five years through its contract with Shank when compared with the Waste Management bid.

Shank's bid was the lowest, borough officials said.

Demolition plans move forward

The owners of some properties that were slated for demolition have failed to make improvements to their buildings or present plans for doing so, which council required to prevent the structures from being razed.

As a result, council will move forward with demolition plans.

Council held a hearing last month to discuss razing 14 buildings. Council removed three from its list and gave four property owners 30 days to make repairs or present plans for repairs, borough officials said.

The hearing was Oct. 7. The window should close Friday, although council members said there's no indication any of the property owners intend to meet the deadline.

Council said a Sharpsburg man hasn't presented plans for rehabilitating the building he owns along Center Street. It has no street address and is vacant.

Council also said it hasn't received an update from a borough couple who said last month they wanted to continue making repairs to a house they own at 203 Hoeveler St.

Council members said nothing last night about the other two properties that had been given a temporary reprieve: 715 Railroad St. and 307 Pittsburgh St.

Michael Aubele can be reached at maubele@tribweb.com or 724-226-4673.

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