2. Zones 1 and 4 are rural, and most potential customers, like Robert A carry their own “solid waste” (garbage) to the local “dumps” around the county. Not needing curbside pickup at all. Also, lots of customers live on country roads, not city streets, where there are no curbs (often only ditches) to start with. Making mechanical pickups with the big specialized “trash” trucks pretty much impossible.
3.The required paperwork associated with the RFP is excessive. Actually, much of the paperwork required can only be readily provided by contractors that are already doing solid waste pickup in Cleveland County. Since only one Solid Waste Franchise has been doing business in Cleveland County, this is pretty much impossible for any local new business startup or expansion of any existing local business. Which is totally opposite to the Commissioner’s Strategic Plan for Cleveland County’s Economic Development. Just another “smelling rat” that indicates something corrupt is going on.
4.The RFP requires an Equipment List from contractors who respond to the RFP. At a minimum the Contractor is to already have Rear end or side loading garbage trucks, tarps and approved clean-out facilities. Nobody but the existing contractor would be able to meat this requirement. Another smelling rat that indicates the existing Franchise holder will win the bid.
5.The County, in the RFP, has an excessive list of records and reports that the winner of the RFP award must provide. Then they require that the Contractor must provide “Any other information that the board of commissioners or the licensee believes to be of importance.” Who does that in the real world?
6.The County requires major liability and auto insurances that would likely be cost prohibitive to any startup or locally owned business startup. Again, the existing contractor, Republic, seems to be favored.
Now, back to the May 17, 2022 Commissioner’s Meeting in regard to this Solid Waste Pickup Agreement. Please remember that neither Robert A nor any member of the general public was provided anything by the Cleveland County Commissioners or the County Manager Brian Epley (as is Epley’s practice) prior to this meeting. Robert A only had a “leaked” copy of the RFP with absolutely NO other information other than what Epley would provide to the Commissioners. Robert A attended this May 17, 2022 Primary Election Day Commissioner’s meeting as previously stated.
The high spots regarding the Solid Waste Curbside Pickup Agreement are as follows”
County Manager Brian Epley provided a “fast-talking” overview of the history of the RFP.
There were only two bids:
1.Republic (the longtime existing franchisee) bid on all four zones at a cost of $25 per month charge to the residential customer.
2.A non-franchise contractor, Contractor X, only bid on Zones 2 and 3 for $20.99 per month per residential customer.
The Commissioners quizzed Epley about whether or not Republic could take Zones 1 and 4 while the previously non-franchised contractor, having a lower bid price, could take Zones 2 and 3. Epley replied that Republic had made an all or nothing bid for the residential curbside pickup service.
Since Robert A had already suspected that this whole business was a corrupt ploy to throw the Solid Waste Residential Curbside Pick-up to Republic, this tactic of all or nothing was logical. The issue for Robert A was, what would the Commissioners do??? Would they fall for the bait and issue another Franchise to Republic?
There was a bit of a pause before Commissioner Ronnie Whetstine (predictably) stated erroneously that” the whole of Cleveland County needed to be covered by this agreement.” Whetstine then made the motion to award the Franchise to Republic. The motion passed 5-0.
Just like almost everything else, the Commissioners were fed just enough to manipulate them into violating their own policy on advocating economic development amongst local business in favor of deep pocketed outside company who might (and often do) have the inclination to somehow make illegal contributions to the Commissioners at the next election. Or some other gratuity? Like under the table cash payments to Brian Epley? Or giving Epley’s wife a job somewhere at a high salary? Or providing a prime real estate property on Moss Lake to someone that is helpful to their cause? Or maybe nothing? Maybe Republic just knew they were dealing with a bunch of rubes??
Now folks, I am sure you ALL are dying to know the answer to this question. Mr. Robert A, what would YOU have done that would have been so different???
Folks, Robert A, if a Cleveland County Commissioner, would have made the motion to accept the bid of Contractor X for Zones 2 and 3 for $20.99 per month per customer. For all the reasons that have previously provided. It is NOT necessary that every nook, cranny and corner of Cleveland County, such as Zones 1 and 4 to have residential curbside solid waste pickup. Zones 1 and 4 don’t have this service now in the unincorporated areas. And not many in the incorporated areas have chosen it. Robert A lives in the Incorporated limits of Fallston where this service is already available, but, like so many others, has chosen not to subscribe to this Republic service. Same with the Shelby Daily Liar which is no longer in Shelby or relevant to Cleveland County. Or Fallston.
Robert A believes that all the Commissioners have done here is to increase the opportunities for profits for Republic at the expense of Cleveland County Citizens, free enterprise and the American Way. And predicts most households in Zones 1 and 4 will be more interested in teaming up with their neighbors to haul their trash to the dump. And save that $25 per month for food, rent and gas.
Editor’s Note: This article was getting too long to include the last big item on the May 17, 2022 Commissioner’s meeting. The 2022-2023 Budget was being saved for last, but now it will be included in a separate article. Actually, this deserves another separate article.
Stay tuned folks, and be sure your blood pressure medication prescription has been filled.
