Quote10 of 19 members lean toward bidding out the $750 million contract
Ten Jacksonville City Council members say they are leaning toward allowing the city’s Trail Ridge landfill to be open to other bidders. Just three say they’re leaning toward supporting Mayor John Peyton and giving Waste Management a contract extension.
That leaves Peyton a long way from the 10 votes he needs. And it shows that the majority of the 19 council members say they’re inclined to hear what other companies have to say about the deal worth an estimated $750 million over 35 years.
Still, most council members said they are waiting for more information from attorneys, auditors, opponents and proponents of the deal before making a final decision. The council meets on April 9 to discuss the contract jointly for the first time.
A vote could come as early as April 23.
QuoteAll 19 Jacksonville City Council members were asked to give their leanings on the Trail Ridge issue ahead of their April 9 meeting. They were asked to explain whether they were leaning toward or against supporting the mayor’s plan to re-negotiate a contract extension with Waste Management to operate Trail Ridge landfill, or if they were undecided. Their answers are compared to the ones they gave in November, when the Times-Union first asked them to weigh in on the issue.
District 1: Clay Yarborough
Position: Still leaning in favor of bidding
(904) 630-1389
Clay@coj.net
District 2: Bill Bishop
Position: Still leaning in favor of bidding
(904) 630-1392
WBishop@coj.net
District 3: Richard Clark
Position: Waiting for public debate and additional information
(904) 630-1386
RClark@coj.net
District 4: Don Redman
Position: Says the mayor’s case is convincing but wants more information, previously was undecided
(904) 630-1394
Redman@coj.net
District 5: Art Shad
Position: Continues to support mayor’s plan
(904) 630-1382
AShad@coj.net
District 6: Jack Webb
Position: Still leaning in favor of bidding
(904) 630-1388
Webb@coj.net
District 7: Johnny Gaffney
Position: Still leaning in favor of bidding but wants more information
(904) 630-1384
Gaffney@coj.net
District 8: Denise Lee
Position: Still waiting for public debate and additional information
(904) 630-1385
EDLee@coj.net
District 9: Warren Jones
Position: Leaning toward supporting the mayor, previously undecided
(904) 630-1395
WAJones@coj.net
District 10: Reggie Brown
Position: Leaning in favor of bidding, previously undecided
(904) 630-1684
RBrown@coj.net
District 11: Ray Holt
Position: Still waiting for public debate and additional information
(904) 630-1383
Holt@coj.net
District 12: Daniel Davis
Position: Leaning in favor of bidding, previously undecided
(904) 630-1380
DDavis@coj.net
District 13: Art Graham
Position: Still waiting for public debate and additional information
(904) 630-1397
ArtG@coj.net
District 14: Michael Corrigan
Position: Still waiting for public debate and additional information
(904) 630-1390
Corrigan@coj.net
AT-LARGE
Group 1: Ronnie Fussell
Position: Still leaning in favor of bidding
904) 630-1393
RonnieF@coj.net
Group 2: John Crescimbeni
Position: Still leaning in favor of bidding
(904) 630-1381
JRC@coj.net
Group 3: Stephen Joost
Position: Believes the legal risk may be too great to put the contract out to bid, previously leaning in favor of bidding
(904) 630-1396
Joost@coj.net
Group 4: Kevin Hyde
Position: Still waiting for public debate and additional information but leaning in favor of bidding
(904) 630-1398
KHyde@coj.net
Group 5: Glorious Johnson
Position: Currently on medical leave but previous said she “emphatically†opposes the mayor’s plan
(904) 630-1387
GloriousJ@coj.net
full article: http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-03-22/story/peyton_faces_struggle_in_getting_trail_ridge_contract_votes_in_council
Waste Management TV Commercial...
http://www.youtube.com/v/zUS6amtmZqU
Does anyone trust anything that Peyton says anymore? Would you run out the building if he yelled FIRE?
Quote from: BridgeTroll on April 03, 2009, 01:23:00 PM
Waste Management TV Commercial...
Wow, that's pretty lame and horrible acting. Peyton will go down as one of Jax's worst mayors on record. The only positive he did, IMO, was lighting the bridges. Hell, that was before I even came to this city in June 06.
Quote from: stephendare on April 07, 2009, 01:08:47 PM
Is tonight the council meeting regarding trail ridge?
No, I believe it is Thursday at 2pm. How ironic, middle of the day when most are working. This topic is a fire waiting to explode inbto a media frenzy.
I'm ignorant to the big picture here...
Is the issue the $750 mil / cost involved? Are there cheaper bids out there?
No one knows. There could be cheaper bids out there, but the Mayor does not want to find out. He just wants for everyone to trust his word that WM is the cheapest deal possible, without exploring other options.
Stephen, I think you have hit on something. What an opportunity for the production of energy from methane. Lots of companies are buying landfill gas energy and partnering with local operators of landfills. That almost expired landfill at Trail Ridge is an energy goldmine. Check this out-
QuoteThe U.S. EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) is a voluntary assistance and partnership program that promotes the use of landfill gas as a renewable, green energy source. Landfill gas is the natural by-product of the decomposition of solid waste in landfills and is comprised primarily of carbon dioxide and methane.
QuoteAs of December 2007, there are approximately 445 operational LFG energy projects in the United States and 535 landfills that are good candidates for projects.
http://www.epa.gov/lmop/index.htm
QuoteWaste Management provides LFGE project development services including design, installation, operation, facilitation, and financing. Waste Management has 30 active LFG facilities.
Isn't energy is already being generated and sold from the Trail Ridge landfill's methane gases?
I'm just heard a radio commercial urging people to speak up to their city council member for be in favor of bidding the contract. During the commercial they said something to the affect the Peyton believes bidding creates corruption... sounds like John has been watching too many Sopranos episode's.