Powder Springs Sanitation Should be Revisited

In the past I have written several articles . Today I will bring out some new information. For these articles I mailed Mayor Vaughn for her view of these subjects which I will try to incorporate into this and future articles. 

Last fall the Mayor and Council looked at out sourcing our sanitation to a private vendor. We almost did so. WE found that the service would be enhanced and cost less.

Why this was not followed up on is a mystery. One matter bothered some members and that was the eight employees who might be laid off. I argued that the vendor could most likely need experienced, hard working employees who know the routes and would fit in like a glove. I can't see that they could possibly offer less wages and benefits than the City. So that is where we are today.

The Mayor writes this column: " The City offers "excellent service" and "cuts cost yet maintains quality controls"

There is no argument that the service is what she says it is. In fact the Sanitation Department employees have the longest service record than any other.

However it is the duty of our elected officials, when faced with such a stark savings, to take advantage. This should have been followed through. Of course last November was elections and that sometimes interferes with decisions.

However elections come and go so why use that as an excuse not to look into this and other issues that I will be revisiting?

I was always hopeful that our community was above political considerations. And we often did make decisions that could have been costly at election time. At least that's what I thought. 

My past columns point out that our apathetic population knows so little of what goes on and the vote turnout is so low that if I was back in office none of my decisions would be colored with politics. I, like others, would simply continue to  do the right thing and explain the decision than or at our election, assuming anyone would bring it up!

Next time, the City Attorney issue.

Thanks for reading,

Tom Bevirt

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