Perhaps we’ve become a kind bellwether town. Today I read that, in Philadelphia, they are having the kind of trouble that is leading them to the this action:
“* Households will receive robo-calls this week, notifying them of the switch to twice-a-month trash collection.”
Of course, they’re not really going far enough in Philadelphia on the trash scene, given our experience. On the other hand, they’re planning to close all the libraries, which makes our 3-day/week look like we're just not making enough effort in closing down civic life.
Our trash collection problems, of course, remain unresolved. Freedom 2000 (name not yet updated to 2008) is the local company that has applied to become the new trash collector, but the county appears to be somewhat reluctant to approve its application. [Correction: as noted in the comments, it is not the County but the WUTC--Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission--that is required to sign off and make a recommendation on the application.] This might be because the county [correction, again: WUTC] has previously had some problems with the company's owners over licensure and dumping practices, according to the newspaper in its August issue, which is not currently on line so I cannot offer a link. Or it might be because the company's plan is problematic with respect to profitability given the small customer base and the newsness of the company to the business, according to the September newspaper. (It should be noted that the previous trash collector reported exactly that problem but the County [again, WUTC] was somewhat less than sympathetic to him from all accounts.) Or it might be that the County [again, WUTC] is hoping someone else will object to Freedom 2000, making it possible for the County [again, WUTC] to keep its hands clean. (Newspaper headline: "Little Opposition to Trash Hauler Seen") All I know is what I read, of course, but between the lines of the trash stories in the last two months' All Point Bulletin, it certainly looks like those are some of the lines of thinking at the County [again, WUTC] level.
Maybe Philadelphia would like to offer some advice?
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2 comments:
Looks like you need to update your news source! Seems like you may need to change your blog to gethalfthepicturesomeofthetime.blogspot.com.
You wrote: “the county appears to be somewhat reluctant to approve its application.” There is no application to the County so there is no way the County could be reluctant to approve Freedom 2000’s application. The WUTC, a state agency handles the application. They also do not approve or what would the accurate word be, disapprove (?!), an application. By law, they accept an application and then they have to post a 30-day notice to an application.
You should know by now that relying on the All Point Bulletin for accurate information is risky at best. Every publisher has biases; we’re just stuck with one who seems to have more than most!
If you would like to know the facts and don’t want to read all the documents on the WUTC’s site, call me and we can talk about it. Then, at least some of the information you post about Point Roberts on your blog would be accurate.
One more thing, Dave owns a currency exchange business so he technically is our ‘Brinks’ man.
Thanks,
Shannon
Incorrect information again! You wrote: “WUTC--Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission—that [sic] is required to sign off and make a recommendation on the application.” Here’s the quote from the September 2009 All Point Bulletin: “A complete application doesn’t mean staff has signed off on it,” Ingram said. “Staff has not and will not make a recommendation until the 30-day period is over.” The commission can then accept the recommendation, reject it or modify it.
A quick check a few minutes ago with Ms. Ingram at the WUTC confirmed they NEVER make a recommendation until after the 30-day notice period. The reason she gave is “process, as in due process.” If another qualified hauler applied the applications would be sent into a judicial hearing. She said that if they were to make a recommendation on Freedom 2000’s application before the end of the 30-day period would be pre-judging the application. That would be unfair to them. A thorough reading of Meg’s article explains the process.
I really don’t care who picks up my garbage and recycling. I wonder why you are so preoccupied by this topic yet don’t take the time to inform yourself. Also, you appear to have a strong dislike for this applicant. That’s fine, then haul your trash somewhere else but why must you paint things in such a negative light?
Thanks again,
Shannon
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