CRRA proposal
The MRJ has posted some documents described as a CRRA proposal here. I don't recall having seen these documents yet.
If it were up to me, I'd ensure there are also ongoing discussions with Covanta in Wallingford and Wheelabrator in Bridgeport. Or more precisely, I'd issue an RFP for trash disposal services.
Tim White
4 comments:
An RFP for necessary long term services would be the smart way to approach this. I wonder why CRRA has not made that recommendation to the captive towns involved?
The maintenance items included in the MRJ seems to almost gloss over the issue. The unscheduled outage repair item seems a bit low as an average for say the next 10 years of operation - - might be some unexpected thing which brings the facility down for weeks or months - - what would a 90 day unscheduled outage cost because if you own it you have to pay for it? Does the facility operating history have statistics on all past outages, both planned and unplanned?
I guess it can’t be said that they didn’t warn everyone in advance that old systems such as drainage improvements, cooling tower repairs, pump replacements, hydraulic systems, burners, instrument air, turbines, etc. will need some significant work. See the items titled INITIAL REPAIRS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. Here’s hoping that our town has done the extra step of hiring some large, established, experienced national engineering firm to go over this facility with a fine tooth comb and provide its independent assessment of the actual condition of all the pieces and parts of this facility just prior to its sale.
I’m one voter betting that the info provided in MRJ concerning costs which shows an initial repair and improvement budget of $2,850,000 just might have missed a zero or two. We all should remember what happened to the train garage being planned for just south of Wallingford in that regard.
Any way you look at it, plant improvements are necessary.
It should be assed the same ways any other property is assessed. All items that have to be fixed or replaced take away from the price.
If Wallingford is capable of running a Municipal electric company, the 5 towns should be able to run a trash to energy plant.
The only consideration that should be given is that the price is not bloated.
A 20+ year old process facility should not be assessed in the same way any other property is. This is a complicated mechanical system which has been run for years and years and required strong maintenance and oversight daily along the way. Those who typically assess the value of simpler commercial properties will not have the requisite expertise to appropriately evaluate such a facility. If our municipal officials just want to continue their ‘winning streak’ with the likes of the town pool and the electric heating system in the high school and the sewer lines which somewhat magically ingest water when it rains - - while the town initially blamed residents for illegally dumping water - - then go ahead and assume any old assessment will just be fine by all us local tax payers.
On second thought, if our municipal officials want to do what is right for the tax payers in town they better start putting some significant visible effort into evaluating this situation before events overtake their ability to make meaningful judgments and decisions as the agents for the town and its voters.
If our municipal officials just want to continue their ‘winning streak’ with the likes of the town pool and the electric heating system in the high school and the sewer lines which somewhat magically ingest water when it rains - - while the town initially blamed residents for illegally dumping water
Don't forget hotWatergate!
Similar to the US Dollar, I think this Council faces credibility / confidence issues.
And they think poo-poo-ing questions and diversionary tactics will win the day for them.
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