INC NEWS - can we afford to take the risks given the history and uncertain future with this new Solid Waste Plan?
Anne Guyton
annemguyton at yahoo.com
Tue Apr 18 12:46:52 EDT 2006
Mike,
You make some good points.
Piece of history on the trash hauling which I thought went by rail and not truck, anyway the city resorted to the transfer station under city manager Lamont Ewell because they were unsuccessful after years and years of trying to find a site within the county that was environmental sound and did not meet with overwhelming public disapproval. I don't think its realistic to expect that could be accomplished now either so I believe we're stuck with the transfer station.
Several times in the past the sanitation employees have defeated plans to reduce crew size because they felt it was unsafe to have less men on each crew. Past efforts were from the Department and then went to the Council for approval. On this issue I think it needs to be done the opposite way to ensure success, from the top down with the Council setting the overall policy first and then backing the departments plans fully.
Anne
Mike - Hotmail <mwshiflett at hotmail.com> wrote: Thanks Anne,
You're correct. We were not asked to pay for the green carts, my error.
I guess my point is that we've (the residents of Durham) have been promised
time after time with each new 'program' implemented over the past 15-20
years that Solid Waste would become more efficient and provide a better
service.
What we've seen is factually the opposite.
How much are we spending on the current system? Shouldn't the new Director
be guiding the department rather than following it?
How much are we spending on personnel? on overtime? on broken down
equipment?
What other options are out there? What are other cities our size doing?
These are very essential questions that needed to be answered BEFORE this
new 'plan' goes before City Council.
At this point in time, we're facing catastrophe if/when Virginia decides
that they no longer will accept our trash.
An even worse scenario would be that they hold us hostage to increase the
fees to continue to do so.
Amongst all this, just how expensive do you think it is to transport ton
after ton of our trash up 85 in semi's given the current price of fuel?
Do you think these expenses or scenarios are going to change to OUR benefit
anytime soon?
A lot of people are questioning the leadership of Solid Waste who are coming
up with this new plan.
At risk is the future cost for the city providing this basic service (read
property tax increase) when there are so many other needs that are pressing
us right now (emergency services/code enforcement/deteriorating
infrastructure, etc).
Of all times, this should be the moment we are asking these questions
before moving forward with spending millions more and adding personnel!
mike
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