Tulsa City Council Approves Financing For Trash Carts

The Tulsa City Council voted Thursday afternoon to approve the financing of residential waste carts.

The council voted in Thursday's special meeting to finance the purchase of carts up to $11.25 million.

Mayor Dewey Bartlett praised the council's vote.

"I applaud the City Council for their decision today to assure the lowest solid waste rates for Tulsa citizens. The Council has done an admirable job of managing a very contentious situation. They listened to the concerns of citizens, worked with the TARE board and sought answers to the many questions being asked of them. This was a complicated process that placed many newly-elected policy makers in a role with limited powers. However, in the final outcome when presented with the chance to vote on the economic issue, the Council today chose what was best for the ratepayers," said Mayor Bartlett.

The council hosted a public hearing Wednesday evening to answer questions about all the changes facing residents when a new trash collection agreement takes effect on July 1, 2012.

2/8/2012 Related Story: Tulsa City Council Attempts To Clear Up Confusion Over Trash Service Changes

Next up: on Friday, the Tulsa Authority for Recovery of Energy (TARE) Board will hold a meeting where it's expected to make a final decision on the trash contracts.

That meeting is at 4:30 p.m. at Tulsa City Hall.

The agenda for TARE's Friday meeting.