The Observation Deck

And to stick to the topic of this thread:

Will the reduction in our refuse collections and, yet to be denied by the Mayor, seemingly inevitable privatization of our refuse collection pay to finance the Mayors shiny new jail?

Will no funds from his latest hack and slash job to our city services he has done by abolishing our back yard service be used in any way for his new jail?

And did Lakewood resident give up our valued back yard pick up service to pay for building/maintaining/running a prison and to provide free health care for criminals? (Maybe the refuse workers who will lose there health care along with their jobs can still receive health care by getting arrested)

Or are you denying that Lakewood residents "will we be paying fro the health care of Westlake prisoners, Bay Villages prisoners,, Fairview Parks prisoners.......?(Structural Balance 2007, Meeting with the Police Chief: Tim O’Malley, June 28, 2007)"

Assuming the Mayor is following this thread, will he publicly state he will NOT outsource or privatize the refuse department for any reason during his term as Mayor? This "assumption" based on the fact he respoed to an email I sent him shortly after I posted on this thread that he had yet to respond to 2 emails I sent him this month.

Because the refuse department wasnt broken untill he tried to fix it.

Also,


Auditor of State Performance Audit, Novemeber 25, 2008, Police Division, page 4-7:

"The police Chief noted that due to the structural limitations of the jail facility, the City cannot consistanly comply with the square footage and day room access, seating in the eating area, and segregation recommendations without extensive building modifications.....
" In situations where Lakewood's jail is significantly over-capacity, the city must contract with other area jail facilities to house new prisoners.
"The police Chief estimated that the average cost paid by LPD to house prisoners at other faclities was 85.00 per day..."

"Despite the additional cost of contracting for prisoner housing in certain sistuations; LPD's total prisoner support costs have declined 28 percent since 2005 and represent approximately 5 percent of LPD's total expenditures, and less then two percent of the city's total General Fund expenditures."

Under the Auditors "Recommendations" ZERO, NADA, NONE to build a new facility. ...weird huh.. pesky facts stated by experts....But we know full well experts advise and opinion will not stop our Mayor nor slow down his agenda promoting Lemmings.. sad.. really really sad

From: SJ Hurd [fitesj@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 11:53 AM
To: PUBWORKS, PublicWorks
Subject: refuse collection questions

What is the monthly cost to Mentor residents for their garbage collection/recycling? For the first quarter of 2009 the total monthly cost is $13.15 per household for just garbage collection. The City provided a flat $150,000 annual subsidy to lower the cost of an optional weekly, curbside recycling collection program. Those households subcribing will pay $1.70 per month in 2009. The City also provides a drop-off facility for recyclable materials at the Center Street Ballfield Complex. This is available to all residents at no charge. This program costs approximately $75,000 annually. How much does the city contribute to the cost of refuse collection. In 2009, the City will contribute $5.31 per household per month towards the aforementioned $13.15. In the aggregate this amounts to approximately $750,000 annually. What is the total per resident ( resident paid fees and city contributions) cost for refuse collection? see above How long has the City of Mentor used a private company to handle its refuse pick up and removale? Approximately 20 years Does Mentor use an Automated collection service? If you mean does the City's hauler (Waste Management) use trucks with automated arms and a single driver/operator the answer is yes. Our specifications, however, have not required this. Regards, Matt Schweikert, DirectorDepartment of Public Works

Re: garbage collection questionFriday, December 19, 2008 8:14 AM
From: "MaryJo Csizma" <MaryJo.Csizma@ketteringoh.org>Add sender to Contacts To: fitesj@yahoo.comCc: "Amy Berlean" <Amy.Berlean@ketteringoh.org>
-----Inline Attachment Follows-----

The cost per month for unlimited, houseside pickup of trash and recycling is $15.58 (billed quarterly). This also includes free weekly bulk pickup and monthly used appliance pickup.

The City has always used private companies for trash hauling. In July 2004 the City went to a one hauler system with a five year contract with Waste Management.

Feel free to email or call me if I can be of any further assistance.

Mary Jo Csizma
Residential Waste Coordinator
City of Kettering

Again:
"Some have been contacting me with issues, concerns and insight on a array of issues. I do not mind at all to be an advocate and to lend a voice."

But please rememeber what I said before:

"Please feel free to send me a PM or even an email if you want to share a “secretâ€￾ or express a concern you think I could help bring to light.

Please refrain from calling me though. I will not engage in any phone conversations.
And please refrain from trying to engage me in rumor milling, mud slinging and personal retributions and vendettas. I am only interested in City issues.
I would also ask that you try to contact the city department you have an issue with, Mayor and City Council before you contact me"

I still don't understand the hysteria about walking a garbage can to the curb.

If the City can save $600,000 per year with this change it is well worth doing. The $3,000,000 in savings over a five year period can be better spent on infrastructure and development.

If the City is paying other cities $85 a day for prisoner care its a bargain. Twelve prisoners at $85 per day is $450,000 LESS than we are now paying. Perhaps the entire department should be out sourced.

IF.

Bill Call wrote:I still don't understand the hysteria about walking a garbage can to the curb.

If the City can save $600,000 per year with this change it is well worth doing. The $3,000,000 in savings over a five year period can be better spent on infrastructure and development.

If the City is paying other cities $85 a day for prisoner care its a bargain. Twelve prisoners at $85 per day is $450,000 LESS than we are now paying. Perhaps the entire department should be out sourced.

IF.

So you are saying that you want less service for more money?

And are you are saying that you feel you deserve service which is less then citys who pay a much cheaper tax rate?

And are you saying you would rather pay for the health care of a prisoner then have garbage service?

Does anyone disagree that a city needs to have refuse collection?
Does anyone disagree that Lakewood ‘s tax rate is one of the 7 top highest in Cuyahoga county?
Does anyone disagree that our tax dollars should provide some comparable measure of service to the high rates we pay
Does anyone disagree that compared to other cities we had a Cadillac service for a Yugo cost (back yard service, unlimited bulk pick up, recycling, appliance pick up……)
Does anyone want to pay more and get less

Is anyone happy to trade off service to pay for a jail
Is anyone happy with having to struggle to pay for their health care while knowing legally have to pay for the health care of prisoners
……….

Really? Are you kidding me?.. I can answer that ..No, no you are not fooling me. But keep trying to fool others and maybe in the end you can convince yourself

Bill Call wrote:

Shelley Hurd wrote:Are we losing our refuse department to make room for the Mayors new Jail?

Or are we losing our refuse department so the Mayor has the money to finance his Endeavour?

Audiotr of State Performance Report November 25, 2008, Police Division page4-7, "LPD's total support costs have declined 28 percent since 2005"...

So Bill the facts just do not support that we need to build a new jail. Our jail costs have decreased even with contracting othe jail facilities to house them. ODD huh....

MMmmm, wonder how they could of decreased? I thought we were in a crime crisis?

Oh ya, thats probably because crime rate has been on the decline since 2005 also.

Structual Balance Report 22007, "Crime is not going up-lower then a couple of years before" So, if you want to dispute tht crime is going down fight with Lakewoods Police Chief.

Lakewood does have a garbage crisis, of that I will agree.

And we do need to adress it befor it bankrupts this city and drains her of her character.

But the problem with our garbage is not our back yard service.

It with the garbage that is coming out of City Hall.

Didn't the mayor just add 10 police officers to the Lakewood Poice Force? Is that not a good sign?

I am going to go out on a limb here and agree with bill........ (nope still standing.)

I do not see the problem. It is not really a big deal to move you trash to the curb. I move my trash to the curb now. When I lived in the apt. my trash cans were at the far end of the parking area. I had to walk the same distance as I would to the curb to put a bag in the cans. If the city can save the money why not. After all we can all still argue about how they spend the saved money.

Stephen Eisel wrote:Didn't the mayor just add 10 police officers to the Lakewood Poice Force? Is that not a good sign?

Did he?


.

Shelley Hurd wrote:So you are saying that you want less service for more money?

We’re not paying more and getting less service. It’s costing us less for lesser service (less cost in 2009 vs current cost in 2008). Valet trash collection is overrated. Dragging a can or two to the curb each week isn’t asking a lot from able bodied residents. The savings from going curbside is paying for more police on the streets and paying for the Mayors housing initiative. Isn’t that what you wrote about in your March 7, 2008 letter? It’s not being used to fund a new jail that’s not even in the 2009 budget.

Shelley Hurd wrote:And are you are saying that you feel you deserve service which is less then citys who pay a much cheaper tax rate?

If you’re referring to Kettering and Mentor, they pay an additional charge for trash pickup. This charge is over and above what they pay in taxes. You’re comparing apples and oranges here. One of the reasons they pay more than our cost is the profit margin of the company doing the service.

Yes, Lakewood has high property tax rates. Most of the recent property tax levies passed went to improve our libraries and schools. Isn’t ‘outstanding education’ another one of your points in your March 7, 2008 letter?

Shelley Hurd wrote:And are you saying you would rather pay for the health care of a prisoner then have garbage service?

We pay for both. There’s no ‘either or’ choice here. Prisoner healthcare is mandated by the State. It’s not an option.