It never ceases to amaze me how at ease politicians are about spending our money.
Take Ford City Council, for example: No-bid contracts, no problem. Accept unauthorized expenditures, no problem. Buy a new $500,000 piece of equipment, no problem. Open a new $45,000 position (that does not address the big picture), no problem. Undisclosed raises for everyone, no problem.
There is little or no discussion (forget dissension) before a unanimous vote seals the deal. And God forbid any citizen should voice a concern or ask a question, lest ye be expelled by the heavy hand of council.
The latest and greatest expenditure is a new garbage truck. With $143,000 of public funds on the line, you might assume that our leaders did their due diligence. You would be wrong.
Council claims the deteriorated condition of the existing vehicle's frame necessitates this purchase. This, of course, raises the obvious question: What is the cost to repair or replace the frame⢠The answer is they don't know.
Not that I necessarily believe it to be the best option, but what is the cost of using a private hauler⢠The answer is they don't know.
What is the cost of leasing vs. purchasing⢠The answer is they don't know.
What are the cost savings to Ford City residents if we shared a garbage truck with another municipality such as Kittanning⢠The answer is they don't know.
Just for the record, I spoke with the Kittanning Council president, and he said they would never close the door to exploring this possibility. He said it is definitely worthy of discussion, especially in these difficult financial times.
Jerry Miklos
Ford City
