Staffers should do comprehensive research
Brian Murphy, City of Duncan director of Public works and Engineering has applied to city council that the time has come to purchase a brand new fully automated side loading garbage truck. Councillor Gary Bruce asked Brian, what about contracting the garbage collection out to a private contractor?
Brian replied that a contractor would cost more than the city purchasing their own truck. Reading through the lines, Brian did not even do his research in regards to see what a contractor would cost. Also what about checking in to see what a new truck would cost if the city was to lease the vehicle. At the end of a lease agreement, the city could get a brand new truck again. This would offset the purchase once again when the new truck has fully depreciated. Some might say that a lease is more costly, but the city still gives out pay increases every year to already outrageous high pay rates.
There is a learning curve for all property owners to learn. Brian says that with a automated truck, the driver never has to get out of the cab of the truck. Not true. Why? Place the cart facing forward (handle bar and wheels facing away from the street) Place the cart within three feet of the street.
Leave a minimum of two feet of clearance on both sides. Do not place any closer than two feet to poles, mailboxes, and other containers. Make sure the cart is unobstructed. e.g. Don’t park in front of car. Refrain from overloading the cart. The cart must be able to close completely. Ensure all garbage is bagged and no lose garbage in the cart. If your garbage is presently picked up in a back alley to your home, a fully automated truck will not be able to do this anymore. The City of Port Alberni is a city that has back alley lanes to all homes in the city.
The City of Port Alberni jumped the gun and purchased three fully automated side loading trucks without doing their research. Now all garbage collection must be collected in the street in front of their homes because the new trucks are unable to use the back alleys for collection. Now homeowners must take their carts to the front street when under the old system, they did not have to do anything. Cost of the three trucks cost taxpayers $954,867 and the three older trucks as trade ins which were only six years old.
You must put your garbage out in the front street to your home.
City council has stated that property owners will have a say before a new truck will be considered for purchase. Before property owners have their say, they must know about the learning curve to make this operation successful, a cost breakdown of purchasing a new truck verses what a contractor would cost and whether to buy the truck out right or leasing the truck. Presently yearly garbage collection is $146 per year and Brian estimates a fully automated truck collection would cost between $199 and $210 per year.
Brian Murphy, is paid a taxpayer funded salary of $99,237 per year as per City of Duncan financial statements of 2021. With that kind of salary, I would have expected Brian to do a comprehensive report on the topic without shooting off from the hip, and not considering the most important issue which is taxpayer’s dollars.
Unbelievable!
Joe Sawchuk
Duncan