Vicksburg Council members plan to look at the feasibility of a single waste-pickup provider for the village.
The matter arose unexpectedly during their June 2 meeting, when Village Manager Jim Mallery brought up a routine matter related to the annual contract for waste collection at village facilities.
Mallery said Republic Services provided the low bid for collection and disposal of all waste containers from municipal properties, including the village office, Department of Public Works, village parks and the village-owned Angels Crossing Golf Club.
The three-year contract was approved and took effect with the start of Vicksburg’s 2025-26 fiscal year July 1. The issue of waste collection, however, digressed to discussion on residential services.
Village President Tim Frisbie said he likes the idea of choosing his own waste hauler, though he conceded village streets take a beating with several garbage trucks operated by different companies making their rounds weekly. “From the big picture, what (single service) does is reduce traffic in the community by (at least) two vehicles, perhaps, the days of the week they’re running through, and the wear and tear on our streets,” Frisbie said. “So, there’s positives to looking at a village-wide, sole provider.”
Council member Ryan Wagner offered to spearhead the issue. He said he looked into the matter in the past as a homeowner association member in the Centennial neighborhood. There are three waste-collection companies, Republic, Waste Management and Best Way, service Centennial, according to council member Chad Kissinger.
Council member Wendy Pheils said for a community the size of Vicksburg, there might be potential for a financial benefit to customers if the job is awarded to a single provider of such services.
“I understand both sides of this coin,” Pheils said. “But I do like the idea of less traffic. I mean, I have those trucks going by my house a few times a week and I’m on a dead-end street.”
Council member Gail Reisterer said her waste service rates were recently raised “quite a bit.”
“So, if it’s going to be cheaper for us, I think it would be worth looking into,” she said, agreeing with a suggestion that public input be sought for additional consideration.
Mallery said the village can at least investigate the proposal and hopefully have more information to share in time for its September meeting. He repeated further discussion would merely be for informational and educational purposes.
“And upon hearing that, if the council desires us to look deeper and wider into (the proposal), we can go from there,” Mallery said, adding that he will attempt to get information from communities close in population to Vicksburg and serviced by a single provider to learn more about their experience.
In other action at the June 2 meeting, Mallery said included in the 2025-26 fiscal-year budget is a new, full-time position: assistant to the village manager.
“I’ve spent some time on how to enhance the village of Vicksburg, our goals and expectations to be a progressive community based on a foundation of service,” Mallery said. “The role is essential to supporting the village’s growing portfolio of services and initiatives, particularly as it relates to the ongoing management of key community assets and increased coordination needs across departments and stakeholders.”
The primary responsibility, he said, will center on leadership of Angels Crossing. Outside of golf season, the assistant’s job duties will include a focus on administrative and strategic functions in support of the village manager, Mallery said. Those duties would include serving as a downtown communication coordinator; providing administrative and strategic support to Vicksburg’s Planning Commission and its Downtown Development Authority; assisting with grant writing, reporting and management to secure and maintain external funding; and undertaking special projects and operational support duties as directed by the village manager.
Council members approved the position. Mallery said 65 percent of its funding will come from Angels Crossing’s budget, 15 percent from the general fund and the balance from “supporting proprietary funds,” he said. The position’s budget impact is about $97,000, Mallery said.
At the council’s June 16 meeting, Mallery addressed what he called “falsehoods going around the village, for no apparent reason.” Mallery said contrary to an allegation on social media, he has not received any type of financial bonus or compensation other than salary for his day-to-day, contractual obligations as village manager.
“Why a certain individual wants to spread false rumors and make accusations or innuendos is on that person,” Mallery said. “Highly doubt they’ll ever correct it on social media, highly doubt they’ll ever contact me to ask questions and get the actual facts and data because some people just don’t care about facts and data.”
As a follow up, Wagner said he remembers a year ago when Mallery was offered a sizable amount of one-time compensation. Mallery declined the offer and instead directed it to be distributed to village employees.
“Anyone questioning (Mallery’s) integrity, I would find highly suspect because I’ve seen no evidence of such,” he said. “It’s ridiculous.”
