Lee’s Summit residents exercised their right to choose on Tuesday, voting down a ballot question that would have created a single, citywide trash hauler. The measure, which would have reduced the number of service providers, was rejected by voters, allowing existing private haulers to continue operating in the community.
Local business stays in town
George Constable, president of Constable Sanitation, celebrated the outcome as a win for his family‑owned business, which has served the area for more than a century. “We can continue, you know, the same routine and what we’ve done here for 100 years. We wanted to stay here,” Constable said. The Constable family has been hauling trash in Lee’s Summit for over 111 years, and the vote ensures the company can remain a local fixture.
Constable explained that a citywide monopoly could have forced his company out of the market. “When I look at the legacy and think that might go away while I’m running it, it’s very emotional to me,” he said in October.
Competition praised by haulers
Ahead of the election, the competing haulers united in a social‑media campaign emphasizing that competition drives better pricing for residents. “It was really fun to see that side of your competition,” Constable added, noting the collaborative tone among the businesses.
Voters cite freedom and choice
Ann Carroll, one of the roughly 29,000 voters who cast a “no” vote, said the decision reflects a desire for personal freedom. “I love the freedom of choice. I was happy not to be told what I had to do,” she said. Carroll also expressed concern that a single provider could push small businesses out of the market.
Mary Shafer echoed similar sentiments, noting that the presence of multiple trash trucks has not caused noticeable road damage. “There are a lot of trash trucks that go around but it never bothered me,” Shafer said. “There are a lot of different options out there so you can decide which one you want to go with.”
Options remain for HOA contracts
Constable clarified that residents who prefer contracted services still have choices. “If you were a yes vote and you were wanting to get contracted services, there’s still several HOAs within the summit that are not contracted,” he said. He also encouraged neighbors to coordinate if they want fewer trucks on their streets, suggesting a collective approach to traffic concerns.
“If you want less traffic down your cul‑de‑sac, get everyone to sign up on the same street, you know, vocalize and communicate,” Constable advised.
Community impact
The vote underscores Lee’s Summit’s commitment to local control and market competition. By rejecting the single‑provider model, voters kept a variety of small businesses operating, preserving jobs and maintaining a level of service choice that many residents value.
Constable summed up his feelings about the city that shaped his family’s legacy: “Either way, the vote would have went. I would’ve lived here, you know. I love Lee Summit.”
Original reporting: KSHB 41 Kansas City (local) — read the source article.
