11-24-75 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 24, 1975 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Michael Vance, Chief Deputy Controller, made the presentation for the ordinance. He indicated that the Sanitation Department dealt with the sewage brought to the Waste Water Treatment Plant. He stated that the budget showed a 16% increas( however, an expenditure of $52,000 for motor equipment had been cut in the 1975 budget. He stated that the only large increase was in Account 530 which was used to pay the deductible on the city's insurance. Under motor equipment, the bureau had plans to replace $63,100 worth of equipment. He indicated that, in 1976, it was hoped a dump -unit truck could be replaced. He indicated that it was also hoped one of the vehicles could be replaced with a one -half ton pickup and a payloader was proposed to be replaced. Mr. Gene Evans, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Associatioi asked about amounts concerning the equipment purchases. Mr. Vance indicated that he did not have an exact figure on the purchases. Mr. Evans questioned the amount of usage of certain equipment, such as the payloader. Mr. Morgan Peck, Manager of the Bureau of Sanitation, indicated that the vehicle had been overhauled seven years ago and the mileage was recorded only as of that time. Councilman Szymkowiak indicated that he had never asked for cuts and reductions in the materials or operation of the departments in furnishing services, but he felt the travel expense was not a public service. He recommended that the travel expense be cut by $200, and he made such a motion, seconded by Council President Parent. Chairman Newburn cautioned the Council members on the cuts being made to the various accounts, particularly the travel accounts. The motion lost. Councilmai Miller wondered about the increase in the insurance account. Mr. Vance indicated that an audit was made last year, and it was found that much of the equipment had not been insured. Council President Parent made a motion that the ordinance be recommended favorably to the Common Council, seconded by Councilman Kopczynski. The motion carried. Councilman Taylor made a motion to recess, seconded by Councilman Kopczynski. The motion carried, and the Committee of the Whole recessed at 7:55 p.m. Reconvened at 8:35 p.m. Councilman Miller asked that the public hearing be combined on the two proposed ordinances con- cerning budgets for the Bureau of Solid Waste. This was agreed to by the Council members. ORDINANCES AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING MONEYS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE BUREAU OF SOLID WASTE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 1976, AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1976, INCLUDING ALL OUTSTANDING CLAIMS AND OBLIGATIONS, AND FIXING A TIME WHEN THE SAME SHALL TAKE EFFECT (1); and AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING MONEYS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE BUREAU OF SOLID WASTE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 1976, AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1976, INCLUDING ALL OUTSTANDING CLAIMS AND OBLIGATIONS, AND FIXING A TIME WHEN THE SAME SHALL TAKE EFFECT (2). This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinances, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Rollin Farrand, Director of the Department of Public Works, made the presentation for the ordinances. He indicated that the Council had been advised of the proposed ordinances in caucus. He stated that one ordinance covered the regular system of operation and the other ordinance recommended a change in the system to what was called the Orbital System. He explained that primarily the Orbie system offered a savings so that the customers could be given 150 plastic bags per year to replace the old system of garbage cans. The system was quieter, cleaner and collection time was much faster. The long -term savings was significant in Mr. Farrand's opinion. He indicated that the present equipment was in bad need of repairs and this was one of the reasons the new system was being proposed. He indicated that both budgets provided for the operation of a vehicle to maintain the paper route. He recommended that the Council adopt the Orbital System for the reasons he had outlined. He stated that negotiations have been made and a company has agreed to reduce the first year cost by $30,000 in order to spread out the cost. He introduced Mr. Ed Otten, Vice President of Orbie of Indiana, located in Crawfordsville, who spoke to the Council on the benefits of the proposed system. He indicated that, among the benefits of the system, there was anticipated as many as 11,000 customers to start', with in 1976. On this basis, at no increase in cost, 1,650,000 thirty - gallon containers would be provided at about $165,000. He indicated that the system made a much more attractive community. Mr. Farrand indicated that the budgets were primarily the same as last year. Mr. Gene Evans, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, wondered about the present system and the number of trucks. Mr. Farrand indicated that the city had 13 trucks, 1 of which was inoperative. He stated that the trucks covered 9 routes and 1 paper route with 2 trucks for the CETA crews. Mr. Evans wondered about the Orbie system and number of trucks. Mr. Farrand indicated that, with the Orbie system, there would be only 4 routes. He stated that the routes would have to be re- organized anyway in the future. Mr. Evans wondered about how the Orbie system has worked in other locations. Mr. Sandy Shelley, President of Orbital of Washington, indicated that the corporation was about three years old and the system was now operating internationally. He stated that the refuse compactor body has been operating quite successfully in Europe and has started in the United States. Mr. Evans wondered about the possibility of the city getting out of the solid waste business. Mr. Shelley indicated that Orbital was in the business of managing and designing, but not operating. Mr. Evans- wondered about the problem of stray dogs tearing open the bags left at the curb for pickup. Mr. Farrand indicated that the same problem was encountered with dogs knocking over the garbage cans. Mr. Otten indicated that his experience with the bags was not better or worse than the can method. He indicated that ties were furnished for the bags. He felt the dogs were not that big a factor. Mr. Evans wondered about Accounts 321 and 324 and the new Account 430. He indicated that the total was about $36,500. He stated that this was a 40% increase. Mr. Vance indicated that an additional $8,000 was appropriated by the Council for gasoline in 1975. He indicated that the increase was only about 7% when the amounts for gas and repair parts were considered separately.