We're prepared to continue to collect waste from both our residential and commercial customers.

The ramifications would have been a moratorium on new development, all new development, residential and commercial; heavy fines from the federal government through the federal courts; and possibly the takeover of the city's water system,

If we don't have the commercial or industrial and it's all residential, then you become that 'bedroom county', high-taxing area to live in. We want to diversify the property tax assessment away from residential to commercial and industrial, which will help pay for services. Then, growth is good.

In both of those areas in which residential customers have been allowed to participate, rates have declined 15 to 20 percent.

We presented the union members with an improved offer on Thursday that we believe is a very good offer.

We've made a commitment to continue to do our normal checks. We don't want that to happen, however. We want to reach an agreement with our workers and that's where we're focused.