By MELISSA PEACOCK

LAPLACE – After nearly a year of voicing their concerns about St. John the Baptist Parish solid waste pickup, residents are quiet – but that does not mean they are all satisfied.

“We’re still paying more and getting less,” said resident Steve Gana. “Fred Trosclair picked up everything out there everyday. Now if you have anything beyond what’s in the can you have to wait for once a week pickup.”

The new green garbage cans, once-a-week pickup of large waste and the increase in cost were the most common complaints during the transition period. Some residents also complained of wheels popping off garbage cans, trouble for senior citizens getting garbage to the roadside and late pickup.

“I guess the new trash cans aren’t so bad,” Gana said. “But I’m still using additional cans to boot.”

Gana said Waste Management Inc. does service his home regularly, but he would like to see more service done during holidays.

Meanwhile, several parish government officials said they were happy with the progress Waste Management has made over the last couple of months.

Parish Council members Steve Lee and Melissa Faucheux, who went to the council with complaints from constituents following the parish’s switch to Waste Management, Inc., commended the company for the turnaround at a recent council meeting in Edgard.

“I was probably a little rough on Waste Management,” Lee said. “We’ve been watching them closely – they’ve made a substantial turnaround.”

Both Lee and Faucheux said that a few problems remain in their districts, but the problems are few and, for the most part, have been resolved quickly.

“The few – very few – problems in my district have been taken care of,” Lee said.

“I haven’t had any more ‘Kodak moments,'” said Faucheux, referring to an incident in April when she submitted photos of trash problems in her district to the council. “I’d like to express appreciation for the expedient action.”

Faucheux said she has had a few complaints but, after walking around the district, has not observed any problems in the area.

The council voted in April 2001 to accept Waste Management Inc.’s solid waste bid proposal – a proposal totaling $1.6 million per year. SWIDI, Inc. of Houma and Browning Ferris Inc. also placed bids for service of the area. The contract signed WMI to the area for five years. According to council members, the council considered not only cost effectiveness in making the decision to switch to WMI, but also the local employees. The company agreed to hire local employees.

The parish’s former contract with Fred Trosclair ended in July 2001 but was extended until August. The company did not issue a bid against WMI, because it did not have trucks with the automated systems the council asked for in the bid.