In reading the last few weeks of Digest issues of the Issues List, there has been a great deal of talk about the statewide and city budget shortfalls, and how they are going to affect programs that are near and dear to our hearts (education, parks, NRP, affordable housing).
At the same time, there has been just a little murmur of interest (primarily from Mike Hohmann) about the latest twist in the saga of the city garbage contract. I have always been disappointed that this group has not taken up the issue of the MRI contract more vocally, and this is my pitch now: PLEASE LETS TAKE SOME INTEREST IN THIS. Its not just garbage, its money! I don't think I can even remember all the twists and turns of the earlier story - but in general,this gigantic contract was under consideration for renewal and extension a good two years prior to the end date (list members, correct me if I've got it wrong here) with no thought of putting the contract out to bid. I do remember thinking that Susan Young (Director of Solid Waste) showed tremendous courage in recommending (publically, in the SWJ) that we go through the RFP process - that it was in the best interest of the city - in the face of what must have been tremendous internal pressure to just keep her mouth shut. So, I saw the City Council's request that an analysis be prepared to see if the work could be done more cost-effectively by city employees as a step in the right direction. Copies of this report were offered to list members a while back, and the topline information was covered in the last issue of the Journal. Mike Hohmann is the only member that has posted on this subject, and he does raise what seem to be obvious questions with the "do it all internally approach": if these numbers and assumptions are accurate, then the substantial cost savings ($ 1.1 million) is offset by a substantial captial investment ($4.2 to $4.5 million). The plan has a long payout (11- 12 years) if crews are not reduced, and a much shorter one (6 years if they are). Could we use this savings six years down the road? Yeah, I assume so. Is this recommendation an obvious one to adopt? Not really - it would merit serious discussion of the pros and the cons. Is this the only option out there relating to the garbage contract? Not at all - I would expect, at this point, that the City Council would be moving to put the contract out to bid - to see how much money could be saved in these seriously challenged budget times. And I would expect, at this point, that MRI would be moving heaven and earth to get their contract sewed up while a half "lame duck" council is still sitting. And since garbage collection has been such a yawner, for this list and in the whole wide world, I'm afraid that this is what MAY be in store for us. I would like to put the current city council members on notice, (especially Mr. "Clean Process" Barret Lane, and others who survived the purge of those who were judged to be "tainted") that there are some of us ( and I hope a growing number) who are watching this issue. The City Council elections, and the new faces on Council offer us the hope that what had become a seriously ethically challenged Council process will now move into recovery - the open light of appropriate scrutiny and fair process for all actions, not just the ones that aren't affected by powerful business interests. If one of the last actions of the current Council is to move forward in some way to secure the MRI contract, then I hope that there is some way the the new Council and new Mayor can challenge that decision. At a minimum, the current Council, in deference to the new team coming on board, should defer judgment on this particular contract, and let the elected officials who represent us best evaluate the options. Money is tight - our needs our great - we owe it to the city to take this approach. List members, I urge you to weigh in. We know the Council is "lurking" here. Let them know what you think. And then we can move back to ballparks and greenways and affordable housing and even squirrels, if we want to. Susan Herridge Lynnhurst _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
