March 1 - Remember to leave your empty Deffenbaugh recycle bins out next week. Deffenbaugh will be by to pick them up. March 8th will be the last trash pickup for Deffenbaugh. Superior Disposal Service will began picking up on Thursday, March 18th. Our normal pickup day will be Thursdays. Please have your trash out by 7 a.m.

Don't forget: you must call Superior to let them know that you want recycling ($2.00 per month). Recycling is NOT part of your normal trash service.

Superior is planning to start delivery of the new recycle bins near the end of this week or the beginning of next week for those residents who have signed up for recycling.

Superior Disposal Service,
P.O. Box 715
Eudora, Ks 66025
913-406-9460 - 913-938-4552
Fax 913-273-0190
Email: sds@superiordisposalservice.com
Website: www.superiordisposalservice.com

January 27 - There has been a lot going on with trash service! There WILL continue to be a lot going on. Most of our Annual Meeting (March 23rd) will be spent explaining these changes to residents. Please note that even the location of the Annual Meeting has changed. The meeting will be held at the Matt Ross Community Center this year due to the closing of the Brookridge Country Club.

These changes are coming from Johnson County, and are their attempt at being more environmentally friendly.

Our 5 year contract with Deffenbaugh ends on March 8th of this year. Your board has been working extremely hard to find the best deal for Brookridge Estates residents. We have just signed a contract for the rest of this year with Superior Disposal Service beginning on Thursday, March 18th.

There are so many changes coming in January 1, 2011 that the BEHA board has decided to sign a contract for 9 1/2 months only with Superior. The board will determine the best trash service for 2011 again this fall when the county determines exactly what will be required.

This work has caused the dues notice to residents to be sent late. Many of you have called asking if you mis-placed the notice. You have not, and you will receive the notice this week or early next week. The 2010 BEHA dues will remain the same ($25). The 2010 trash service will be $133.20.

Please note the email sent by Jim Twigg from the city of Overland Park, KS, which we just received today:

"Attached is a draft the new Johnson County Solid Waste Code which was received today. This code would establish a county-wide permit system for solid waste haulers that would require that:

Trash haulers could no longer collect yard waste as garbage and dispose of it at the landfill or transfer station. Yard wastes (leaves, grass clippings) collected by haulers would need to be composted or otherwise managed. (implement 1/1/2011)
As part of their basic service, trash haulers would need to provide unlimited curbside recycling for residentially generated recyclables. (implement 1/1/2011)
Trash haulers would need to implement a volume based rate structure - otherwise known as pay-as-you-throw. (implement 1/1/2012)
I'll be reviewing this draft in depth over the next week. Please let me know if I can answer any questions."

Jim Twigg

Environmental Programs Coordinator

City of Overland Park, KS

8500 Antioch

Overland Park, KS 66212

913-895-6273

913-890-1273 FAX

jim.twigg@opkansas.org

December 24 - Since Christmas falls on a Friday this year, our trash will be picked up on on our usual Monday (December 28th), rather than one day later. The same will apply to our trash pickup after New Year's Eve. Our trash pickup that week will also be on the normal Monday (January 4th).

Monday, October 12th (Columbus Day) - today is a normal trash day as it is not one of the special holidays listed below.

Trash Pickup 2009

Currently, trash pickup is on Monday of each week; except when it would occur on the following holidays, then the trash is picked up on Tuesdays:

New Year's Day

Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas Day

The issue of trash pickup this year is of concern to your board!

Unlike many homes associations, Brookridge Estates Homes Association (BEHA) has a contract with Deffenbaugh Industries for the remainder of this year. This means that Deffenbaugh cannot raise rates more than 3 percent for our residents' "group rate" trash costs this year. Because of this, BEHA has been able to keep the cost of trash pickup to a minimum. Many other communities have seen their rates go skyhigh as a result of recent cost increases.

This year your Brookridge Estates trash pickup cost is $115 for the year. The cost of homes association dues remains at $25, so the total cost charged to you is $140, if you desired to take advantage of the group rate. The group rate was negotiated with Deffenbaugh during the first quarter of 2009.

The City of Overland Park has opened up competition with other trash haulers, and BEHA will be looking at these throughout this year in anticipation of keeping your trash costs to a minimum. There are four other trash vendors the City of Overland Park has approved, and your board will be discussing the best choice of all five thoughout this year.

If you wish to make a comment concerning your trash pickup, whether for the future or for this year, please call your BEHA president at 383-1166.

In order to get the reduced rate, you paid both your annual dues and your trash pickup together. BEHA then paid Deffenbaugh a lump sum depending on the number of residents participating. This "group rate" reduced your trash costs as BEHA negotiated the costs with the trash contractor.

You can pay your annual dues to BEHA and negotiate with Deffenbaugh yourself for your trash pickup. Usually, this has resulted in you paying a much higher price, but this remains your choice.

In addition to having your weekly curbside pickup, you can get recylcing pickup. Unfortunately, you are responsible for your trash recycling costs, as BEHA cannot negotiate a "group rate" for recycling with Deffenbaugh at this time.

Your board is watching other parts of trash pickup also: the number of trash bags of yard waste and consumer waste is being observed closely. Also, there has been talk of having to go to a standard 65 gallon trash container. It seems to your board that older residents would have trouble getting these large containers to the street each week.