Do we need a quarter-million-dollar truck for the Truth or Consequences solid waste department?
During budget talks, Solid Waste Department Director Andy Alvarez delivered a one-liner that won the city commission’s assent to put the massive purchase in the budget. “I want to go into the county and even Elephant Butte. I think I can make some money.”
The actual purchase came up on the Sept. 28 city commission meeting. One of the first measures City Manager Bruce Swingle put before the city commission after he was hired May 2021 was a policy requiring the commission approve purchases over $20,000. Before Swingle, the one-liner by Alvarez would have been the first and last word on the truck.
I spoke against the purchase during public comment:
“The city has busted out three of its utilities, and now you are applying the same failed government and failed business practices to the solid waste department.”
“No transparency, no business plan, no cost analysis.
“The city is hoping it will make money by expanding into Sierra County and Elephant Butte—competing with private companies.
“Unlike your monopoly in T or C and Williamsburg, you will not have a monopoly in Sierra County and Elephant Butte. They said ‘no’ to T or C trash services.
“This off-the-books operation—no advertising, no set rates, no scales—has moved into this market probably by undercutting private-company prices.
“It can do so by subsidizing this new venture with monopoly money from T or C and Williamsburg, busting out these services to chase a new thing.
“I ask that you not buy this truck, that you do a market and cost analysis, that you make this business transparent via ordinance.”
For the first time, the regular agenda item, purchases over $20,000, was questioned by a city commissioner. Mayor Pro Tem Rolf Hechler asked Swingle, “What is our rationale for buying this truck?”
“I don’t remember all the reasons, but the department really needs this truck,” Swingle said.
“There was talk of making a profit,” Swingle said, but the truck will be primarily used to transport, place and pick up big roll-off containers in city neighborhoods, offering “free” dumping in hopes of cleaning up the town.
This “free” service, as well as the cost of the truck, will be paid for by the monopoly services, which rates go up 5 percent a year. A rate comparison among four New Mexico cities of like size showed T or C had the highest—and that study was done before rates went up July 2021 and July 2022: https://sierracountysun.org/government/t-or-c/solid-waste-rate-comparison-among-cities-similar-in-size-and-isolation-to-t-or-c/
Hechler said he has arranged roll-off service from private companies in the past. A one-week placement of a roll-off bin costs about $5,000 to $7,000, which may be the better way to proceed, he said.
The city commission tabled the purchase until Oct. 12, when Alvarez will attend.
While I prefer to usually defer to Hanlon’s razor (never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity), I think after reading almost daily about the absolute unbridled nonsense seeping out from under the city’s closed backroom door, there is not only both malice and stupidity, but a stew of corruption as well. What other explanation could there be for a statement like, “I don’t remember all the reasons, but the department really needs this truck,” or trying to justify a quarter-million dollar purchase (that will also require maintenance) with “There was talk of making a profit” with no business plan whatsoever. Whose profit, I wonder. They can’t they can’t even make up a good story. And then there is the unbelievable continual ignorant hubris displayed by Francis Luna. Are the citizens of T or C just going to keep taking it? Thank goodness for Kathleen’s courageous work. I hope T or C residents will get the State’s Justice Dept. involved. The city’s government is clearly not competent and/or accountable for itself. This has to end. I’m not around any more to get involved: to use a Trailer Park Boys reference, I smelt the $@&# winds coming about a year ago and fled to another state. But I follow Kathleen’s work closely- it’s hard to look away. If this weren’t real life with real consequences (haha) for real people, it would be comedy, albeit quite dark.
TorC is hurting financially from years of irresponsible spending and poor budget controls. You would think our city leaders would have learned from past mistakes. It appears not.
Our solid waste department wants to spend 250K on what at best sounds like a pipe dream.
As a former Facilities Director that was required to justify any and all proposed equipment purchases I was always required to submit at the very least a one and five year plan that included projected operating costs and potential earnings.
Has any written plan been submitted to justify this purchase?
I can only hope our city commissioners does not think that a department directors statement that “I think I can make money” is a viable business plan.
Does the solid waste department have a written marketing plan to justify this purchase?
How much money will be spent on advertising?
Is there a projected rate plan?
Will the departments labor budget need to be increased for an operator?
Has any real market research been done that shows there is even a market for another solid waste company in the county or Elephant Butte?
There are far too many unanswered questions to justify the spending of 250K that the city does not have.
I had hoped that after our last election this city commission would be more responsible and open to citizens concerns, but so far it just seems like more of the same…..
Personally I have lost a lot of respect for our current city commission. My loss of respect stems from a couple of issues, one of which was the fiasco I went thru when I volunteered to sit on the P&Z board. I was subjected to 3 different Q and A sessions at three different commission meetings to determine my qualifications to sit on the board and still was never either appointed or denied. (A first as far as I know for anyone that has volunteered to sit on any of the city boards) For the record I did rescind my application after the third meeting when a vote to reject or appointment was tabled once again. No resident deserves that kind of disrespect from an elected body.
Another issue that has caused me to feel the way I do was a pre election commitment from one commissioner to revisit the ridiculous $50.00 a month electric meter reading fee that a few residents are subjected to because they dont want a smart electric meter. for numerous reasons. The pre and post election promises too at least revisit the fee structure were evidently just political words that must have been forgotten.
I love Truth or Consequences, but I am very worried about its financial future and its ability to provide basic services to its residents as well as repairing our rapidly declining infrastructure.
Rick Dumiak