Title
Matters relative to bids on Bio Waste
Body
SUMMARY:
Councilman Souza will continue the discussion on bidding out the bio waste from the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Background: I have received complaints that the availability of the sewer waste has been restricted to two people. When this material was first made available, fertilizer was $60 to $90 a ton, today it is $570+ a ton. Today farmers refer to it as gold! When this all started in the early 1990's, the goal was to find a disposal source to preclude putting it in the landfill and eliminate the haul bill. The city produced in excess of 2,400 tons last year. Mr. Clark estimated the value between $70,000 and $100,000.
Argument: That Mr. Hinch and Mr. J Paul Smith have had sole access to a city commodity that has value and this commodity should be made available to all persons on a competitive basis. That no contract or written instrument was ever signed to protect the city from misuse of this product and such measures should be in place. That, while these parties did initially expend finances to utilize this product, that the mutual financial relationship has more than covered the outlay of the expense and no obligation exist to continue this on part of the city. Mr. Clark stated that he checked and found no other municipalities selling this product. A more diligent review will find that it is, in fact, being marketed. The key to this will be in getting the word out. While the first year may or may not be as rewarding as one would hope, the advertising and continued cost of fertilizer will make this a source of revenue.
BUDGET ACCOUNT:
Recommended Action
NECESSARY COUNCIL ACTION: Approve proposed contract and bid package.