Dooley on the Run: Talkin Trash

Although it’s been just two weeks since St. Louis County lost its battle in the trash haulers lawsuit in which Judge Barbara Wallace ordered the county to pay out $5.9 million to three haulers, some high-ranking county officials seem to fanaticize that they will be granted a “second chance day” in court, that the court will overturn its judgment in favor of the county, and that they will all live happily thereafter, as if in a fairytale.

Now that St. Louis County Circuit Court Judge Barbara Wallace has ruled against the county, Garry Earls, the county’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) said that the county will appeal the judgment. Mr. Earls said, "I'm disappointed that the court determined that there was something about it that merited

Garry Earls

sending money back to these trash hauler companies. These were the losing bidders, by the way, for the trash hauler district contracts." Earls, who seems to be the county’s self-proclaimed legal analyst/law professor also said, "We think we have a good case for just overturning the whole judgment, and certainly we'll pursue that as far as we can go. Even if we do end up paying the entire judgment, the residents of unincorporated St. Louis County have still saved money."

Note that the arrogant county officials always seem to come up with a good line that they’re always saving county residents money even when they’re costing the residents millions with their bombastic mistakes. To coincide with Earls rationale, Patricia Redington, the seasoned county counselor, has repeatedly argued that the state statute did not apply to the county because it is a charter county, however courts’ didn’t buy that bill of goods from her either.

 In its case against the haulers, the county never presented any witnesses and the county also admitted that the required two-year notice via certified mail was never provided to the haulers, thus yet another instance of the county’s arrogance with regard to defiance of state law.

On the flip side, Jane Dueker, the attorney for the prevailing trash haulers has a different assessment of this contentious issue. Dueker said that “(County officials) kept saying the law didn't apply to them. They were wrong, and the courts found that they were wrong. They're still exhibiting that sort of arrogance now.” She also said that "This entire judgment was avoidable, completely, easily, cost-free avoidable." But, the county didn’t listen. And, they’re still not listening today. By appealing the judgment for damages, the county runs the risk that the trash haulers could be awarded even more in damages, as Dueker said that the interest on the $5.9 million judgment will accrue daily at a 9-percent annual interest rate, so the meter is running and the dollars are adding up.

  At every stage of the case the haulers tried to settle with the county, but their offers were rejected by county officials, according to Dueker. As such, Dueker said, "Before we filed suit, I sat there with Garry Earls and Pat Redington and said, 'I'm going to sue you, don't do this. Just give the notice.

Pat Redington

And they wouldn't do it. It's pretty rare that I see a legal case that is this one-sided, and they just keep stalling and stalling."

 Dueker also disputes Earls contention that the case is still open by stating that the Missouri Supreme Court has already ruled on the merits of the case, thus the decision with regard to the county’s fault is final and that the only remaining issue in question is the amount of damages that the county will eventually have to pay the trash haulers. Of course, the county will continue to stall and prolong the inevitable for as long as possible with any legal maneuvers at their disposal, but at some point they’re going to have to pay the haulers.

Bryan Barcom, owner of American Eagle Waste Industries and a plaintiff in the case, said "I don't want to sound like an excitement killer about getting awarded $593,000, because that's a lot of money. Don't misconceive that. However, no one looks at the fact that we lost $2.5 million a year for the last five years, and we are unable to grow our business in unincorporated St. Louis County."

Like many other St. Louis County residents, Barcom contends that the issue of the trash districts should have been decided by a vote of the people. But, St. Louis County officials and their advisors claimed that a referendum would cost too much money. Barcom counters by stating that “Would it have cost $5.9 million to put it on the ballot? "I don't think it would've."

Although this case is not completely settled yet, St. Louis County officials need to come to the realization that they lost this case and are going to have to pay the haulers. Therefore, the two key questions to be resolved are: When and How Much?

The complete news story by Gloria Lloyd with the Call Newspapers.

Dooley: "We will do a better job"

County Executive Charlie Dooley pledged in an interview after the vote to keep the County Council and the citizenry better informed about the county's finances and budget in 2012.

"We will do a better job of communicating with the County Council, and being open and transparent, " Dooley said. "Everyone will know where we are. We have challenges but also opportunities."

Dooley said the budget "kicks the can" of some budget problems down the road. "In my lifetime, the economy has not been this bad," Dooley said.

Dooley proposed on Tuesday a standing County Council committee to meet biweekly or monthly to discuss the status of the budget all year.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/after-difficult-prelude-st-louis-county-council-approves-budget/article_edc8678f-8adc-5be4-b292-c35ecd9f9b17.html#ixzz1hBechpH0

County Council Hears Opposition Transfer of Contracts but Votes to Approve

At the Council weekly meeting on September 28, the St. Louis County Council heard from 11 residents who voiced strong opposition to the county’s controversial trash districting program and the proposal before the council to transfer three trash district contracts to Allied Waste, which would result in moving much closer to a monopoly with only two haulers (Allied and IESI) remaining as the “designated” haulers for the eight trash districts. The proposal was a result of Veolia ES exiting the St. Louis market and selling all of its assets to Allied Waste.

After listening to the opposition, the council voted 5 – 1, to approve the transfer, with one member (Greg Quinn, 7th District, R-Ballwin) absent. The dissenting vote came from Steve Stenger (D-Affton), the 6th district councilman from South County, who said that he voted according to the consensus among his constituents, as well as in the best interest of all county residents. Stenger’s district is the largest unincorporated area of St. Louis County and includes four of the eight trash districts.

The transfer of contract issue presented the county council with a dilemma in that the county administration and the majority of the council asserted that there was not enough time to seek bids on the remaining contracts, and the administration warned that a public emergency would result if the council did not approve the proposal.

The broadcast of the September 28 county council aired on Saturday, October 2. However, there was a technical problem and the tape stalled midway into the public forum segment of the meeting, so nearly half of the speakers were not heard, as well as the remainder of the meeting. The problem was reported to the St. Louis County Council and Charter Cable, and a response from both entities was requested.

Due to the technical problem with the broadcast, perhaps the most important speaker was not heard. That individual was Bryan Barcom, owner of American Eagle Waste Industries, who happens to be one of the winning plaintiffs in the trash haulers lawsuit. Bryan’s address to the county council is as follows:

“Bryan Barcom, American Eagle Waste, 7717 Alabama.

I have two things that I want to ask tonight, and the first one is to Mr. Dooley.

About two and a half, almost three years ago, me and my brother, Mike Barcom, which were partners in American Eagle, met with Charlie Dooley, Garry Earls, and Sheryl Hodges. And, when we sat down and met our first question was, let’s put this to a vote, let the people vote, and if they vote, then we’ll honor whatever the citizens’ vote in St. Louis County.

We’ve been to numerous meetings; we knew there wasn’t an overwhelming majority of people that wanted this. And out of Mr. Earls mouth and Mr. Dooley’s mouth is this is going to cost the citizens, or this is going to cost too much money to put it on the ballot. Well, three years later, what’s it going to cost the county now? A good head would have said we’re going to put this to a vote and we’re going to make sure. I don’t care what district three or anybody else wanted.

We had meetings, and hundreds and hundreds of people came and told you that they did not want this program. We told you that the Missouri state constitution didn’t allow you to have this program and we told you that your charter didn’t allow this program without a vote.

Second thing is, for Ms. Redington, is she went to the Court of Appeals and she told the judges at the court of appeals that they did not have the right to incorporate these trash districts, that they were giving the citizens an opportunity to get the best price and the best service. And, if all of you remember, I come here that night and told you that I’m coming back and I’m taking the customers back, because St. Louis County doesn’t have the right; they just give the people the opinion, or the option.

So, four of you on this panel decided that we were going to follow Mr. Dooley and Mr. Earls in a program and says all of a sudden we’re going to change this legislation and if you do we’re going to fine you.

So, what we need to understand here as a member of this council; you didn’t do anybody in St. Louis County that’s a taxpaying citizen any benefits by not understanding what you’re doing. You’re up here to represent, not your district, but every single person in St. Louis County. And, you failed, and you failed real big! And, then you want to make us be the bad guys to say that we’re out for money. We’re not out for money, what we’re doing is we’re stopping every single government entity from Missouri to wherever, that you’re going to follow the law. And you’re going to follow it or your going to pay, period! Thank you.”

Please feel free to pass this communication on to others who may be interested and to those who do not have internet access. Also, anyone interested in joining the protected e-mail distribution list should send his/her name, e-mail address and subdivision/area of residence to gregporter@prodigy.net.

Fox News presented this interview with County officials.
http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-you-paid-for-it-trash-pick-up-092910,0,7291893.story

Residents Ticked Off at County Officials About Trash Program; Comments From Readers of Post Articles

St. Louis County residents have been vocal in their dislike and distrust of the county’s trash program. The following are just a few of the comments expressed in the Post Dispatch comments section at:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_a576c829-4dbb-5054-bf93-6b4087dda664.html?mode=comments

1. Beenthereseenthem said on: September 26, 2010, 7:15 pm

I've worked for the county for years. Everyone there knows Charlie Dooley couldn't put the right shoes on the right feet without Gary Earls and John Temporiti's permission and direction. Pat Reddington does whatever they tell her to do and she is totally out of touch with reality. If I were an investigative reporter, I'd check out their connections with those that were awarded the contracts in not just this matter but all contracts that have been given out in their administration!!!!!

2. dblittlefeet said on: September 25, 2010, 11:01 pm

Not only were we forced to use a trash service we did not choose--they suck on top of it. They have the worst service I have ever had. From the haulers all the way up to Dooley. Can’t wait for November to say good bye Mr. Dooley!! I have had to appear in court three times already--but they will never get a penny from me. I cancelled service and have more of a bill for one year of cancelled service than I did for 3 years of trash service from American Eagle.

3. Johnd38 said on: September 25, 2010, 11:19 am

Dooley is history in November & Bad History as well. Poor excuse for a "leader". When will people wise up & quit electing these incompetents? Good riddance. Shame that bonds for job performance aren't required & taxpayers will not only get to pay for his criminal activity, but also will have to pay retirement benefits for him too.

4. 7d7 said on: September 25, 2010, 10:26 am

While County voters can't make this lawsuit go away, they can on November 2 to address its cause: County Executive Charlie Dooley.

It was Dooley who used his office to ramrod the County's seizure of contracting authority for trash hauling from its citizens. It was Dooley, and his appointees, who exposed County taxpayers to the lawsuit.

It is Dooley who is now behind transferring without bid contracts for three of the eight districts to Allied. Dooley must go!

5. MOVALFAN said on: September 25, 2010, 10:25 am

The concept behind the trash districts is solid. Its implementation has been a travesty. But then what did you expect from this bunch of St Louis City Democrat machine thugs. This is how they 'roll' in machine politics. Once Dooley was selected he gradually brought in the old Schoemehl crew that destroyed the city during that administration. You can see their legacy in the city to this very day. Do you like what you see there and want the same future for the County? Vote Corrigan!!!!

6. thiatt_II said on: September 25, 2010, 10:17 am

There is a good chance that some of you are right and Dooley was trying to help a north county business. AW, which is located in North County and has the business in either all or most of the districts, also has the worst customer service. I know several people that work for different trash companies and hearing what they do in their job is very different than the service that AW employees have ever given.

7. dobeman said on: September 25, 2010, 10:06 am

This should do it for Dooley. It's good bye and good riddance, Charlie! Enough of the crooked North County politics; people are fed up. This should make it a cake walk for Mr. Corrigan. You mess with people's bread and butter and you are out the door!

8. jjk said on: September 25, 2010, 10:01 am

I think AAA rated Charlie Dooley just got downgraded to junk bond status.

9. teg132 said on: September 25, 2010, 9:27 am

ADVICE TO CORRIGAN: Go crawl under a rock until the election is over. This idiot you're running against will bury himself, so don't take any chances. Stay cool and under the radar......let Dooley dig his own grave just by being himself.

10. teg132 said on: September 25, 2010, 9:22 am

Rightthinker4's comments are likely close to fact concerning your county buffoon's ties to north-county trash haulers! That angle should be fully investigated, and if it is found that the North County haulers were given any preferential treatment whatsoever, their contracts should be cancelled. Then a private negotiator should work out a deal with the haulers who were harmed, so that this entire problem goes away, at considerably less cost than otherwise. THIS DOOLEY GUY IS A J O K E.

11. Taxman2 said on: September 25, 2010, 9:13 am

Every municipality in St. Louis County had to follow this law when they switched to one trash hauler. How Dooley/ Redington thought they could get away doing it differently is asinine. This will cost the County hundreds of millions in damages. There is a good chance that the first thing that the new County Executive, Mr. Corrigan, will have to do is to file for bankruptcy.

Read more comments at:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_a576c829-4dbb-5054-bf93-6b4087dda664.html?mode=comments
&
http://www.stltoday.com/search/?l=50&sd=desc&s=start_time&f=html&q=st.+louis+county%2C+trash

Another Chapter in The Trash Boondoggle in St. Louis County

Last week, County Executive Charlie A. Dooley's administration asked the County Council to approve the transfer of contracts from Veolia ES Solid Waste Management LLC to Allied Services LLC for trash services in southwest and south St. Louis County. These areas include Affton, Lemay and Mehlville.

Councilman Steve Stenger, D-Affton, objected to the deal. He said that if Veolia gives up the contracts, the county should seek bids from other companies rather than hand the contracts over to Allied.

"With another three districts in addition to the two it already controls, Allied will be well on its way to establishing a trash hauling monopoly in the county," Stenger said before Tuesday's meeting. "What we ought to be doing is putting these contracts out to bid right now and giving small businesses a shot at them."

It’s pretty evident the County did not have a contingency plan should one of the haulers fail. The County is now faced with an emergency situation and is faced with "reacting" rather than "acting."

Councilman Greg Quinn, R-Chesterfield, said he agreed with Stenger.

"Allied is moving toward a monopoly," Quinn said. "If we bid these districts out, there's a very good chance that residents will save money."

Council Chairwoman Barbara Fraser, D-University City, ordered that the proposal be put on hold so council members could examine the issue before voting.

Veolia also wants to sell its other assets in the St. Louis area to Allied, including those in Arnold, Bel-Ridge, Bridgeton, Clayton, Crestwood, Frontenac, Hazelwood, Warson Woods and Winchester.

Garry Earls, the county's chief operating officer, said that the county requested the contract transfers out of necessity. He said Veolia had already sold its equipment to Allied and that, as of Oct. 1, Veolia would not have the means to collect trash in this area.

"If the council members reject this proposal, I'm presuming they're ready to go out and pick up the trash," Earls said.

The finger pointing is already going on. County management appeals to the Council. The Council puts the issue on “hold” to study the situation. Garry Earls of the County passes the buck to the County Council. Citizens are grumbling. Law suits are pending. Another interesting thing about this is that Dooley’s former staff member and current campaign manager, John Temporiti, was the attorney for Allied Waste, however, Temporiti says he nor his company have represented Allied for two years.

The county said it established the 8 trash districts in response to complaints from residents in unincorporated areas about multiple hauling companies serving the same neighborhoods. Yet today, over 300 subdivisions throughout St. Louis County chose not to participate in the County’s trash program.

But the plan has generated controversy from the start. It’s loaded with too many flaws. First, there should be a law requiring all residents to have a trash service but the law should not require citizens to use a particular service. The county should leave it up to individual subdivisions or areas to select their hauler of their own choosing. This gives residents local control and freedom of choice to make any desired changes. For residents not in a specified subdivision, the County can assign a trash hauler based on haulers being used in that area.

A resident of a south county subdivision commented their subdivision trustees selected their hauler based on resident’s input, but across the road in another subdivision, the County assigned a different hauler . . . and just down the road, homes not in a subdivision are being serviced by a third hauler.

Enforcement of the regulation has come under fire as many residents are “doing their own thing” in sharing services and transporting their trash to their place of business.

Estimates of the dollars involved are way over $11 Million and growing.

Lot more information on this subject and situation is available at the St. Louis Post Dispatch site at: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_d6e86431-e72f-5eb1-9253-f7d6ff82d35c.html

St. Louis County Issues Citations For Enforcement of Trash Regulation

St. Louis County has started issuing citations to county residents stating they are in violation of the St. Louis County Waste Management Code. The citation claims the resident has failed to have in effect an agreement for the collection of waste at their address. The stated fine is $100 which will be waived if they start trash services within 10 days of receipt of the citation.

Most citations issued have been to residents not living in a subdivision and who were unable to opt out of the County’s program. Unfortunately, these residents have been discriminated by the regulation with their pleas being completely ignored by County officials and the County Council. Observers say this is one of the major problems with the regulation. (Click on picture to enlarge)

Some residents dispose of their trash at their place of business. The regulation, as it stands, forces these residents to pay twice – once for their residence and once for their place of business, even though they may be the same place or close by within walking distance.

In some cases, residents combine their trash with another family member. In most cases, this is may be a single parent who has little trash. Right or wrong, the county demands that both parties must pay.

But some county residents can legally dump their trash at work . . . and it’s happening. Here’s how. A subdivision opts out of the county’s program, but does not designate a trash hauler for their subdivision. Residents can legally choose their own hauler . . . or not choose. Under this situation, a resident can take their trash to work or any other place they choose.

Unfortunately, this is only available to residents who live in a subdivision which has opted out of the county’s program and has not designated a hauler. With more than 300 subdivisions not participating in the county program, there are more than a few who have not designated a hauler.

The end result is the subdivision has the same trash program in place as they had three years ago – no change.

Are you being discriminated against? Any questions?

Readers have presented a number of questions and situations with new ones surfacing every few weeks. Here are a few.

1 - Can residents in a neighborhood organize themselves into a subdivision? What is the definition of a subdivision? A check of the dictionary says a subdivision is a term for an urban or suburban area. If that’s the case, a neighborhood may be able to organize themselves into a subdivision.

2 - Another question covers the building of new homes to form a subdivision. Let’s say a builder is building 50 homes and now has occupants in 10 of them. The question is who determines the trash hauler for these 10 - the builder, the 10 residents, or St. Louis County? Will these new homeowners have a chance to opt-out of the county program or are they “stuck?” When can they vote to opt out? When they move in or when all 50 homes are occupied?

3 - As of this writing, there are two lawsuits pending in the courts to throw out the program and require a two year notice to all haulers. The questions fall into two areas. What happens if the county looses these cases? What happens if they win?

If the county looses, will they refund penalties paid by residents on a regulation that has been determined to be illegal? Will the county be faced with lawsuits from trash haulers or residents? Who will pay for any legal actions? (Looks like county residents will pay)

If the county wins, the regulation goes into effect along with enforcement. The only way county citizens can then achieve their freedom of choice is at the polls.

>> Comments posted:

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "St. Louis County Issues Citations For Enforcement ...": The County better hire more Garbage Cops, and build more detention camps. There are literally, 10's of thousands of residents that have now hit the delinquency list.

This program from beginning to hear, has Cost St. Louis county, Cost the County taxpayers, Cost the County residents, Cost the existing trash businesses, and others, Millions of Dollars.

And, if the County looses the law suit, it will cost millions more.Call your council person, call Charlie, Call Gary Earls, but, everyone should be very upset with this situation. Vote them all out of office, they deserve it.

Dooley Plays Politics Dumping Fox TV Interview on Earls; Earls Stutters His Way Through

For those who missed the “You Paid For It” segment of Tuesday evening’s Fox 2 News at 9:00, click on the link below to view the 3 minute video of Elliott Davis grilling St. Louis County Chief Operating Officer, Garry Earls, about the two pending lawsuits against the county. It’s apparent from the video that County Executive, Charlie Dooley, would not agree to be interviewed by Davis, so he dumped the task on Earls. That's called "playing politics" when the chief executive refuses to be interviewed, he can later plead ignorance.

As many residents are aware, there are two court cases pending against St. Louis County concerning its controversial trash districting program. The first case involves the trash haulers vs. St. Louis County. This case was rejected on appeal by St. Louis County to the Missouri Supreme Court and was sent back to the Circuit Court for trial. To date, no trial date has been set.

The second case involves the citizens (right to vote) vs. St. Louis County. This case is in the Circuit Court and is set to be heard at the second Case Management Conference, which is scheduled for April 9, 2009.

Earls was unable to answer direct questions from Elliott Davis of Channel 2 repeatedly saying the county will NOT loose the law suits. He would not provide any indication of a plan should the county not win. Davis appeared to know more about the trash situation with the County that what County officials did.

Should the County loose the pending law suits, trash haulers who were selected by the county could well loose business. Trash haulers not selected by the county have already lost business. Additional law suits to recover lost revenue are not out of the question and could well run into the millions of dollars.

Contact County Executive, Charlie Dooley or Chief Operating Officer, Garry Earls, to let them know what you think about the county’s trash program, the contact information is below their respective pictures. As Elliott Davis always says: “After all, YOU PAID FOR IT!”

Send an e-mail to St. Louis County Executive, Charlie Dooley, at cdooley@stlouisco.com or give him a call at 615-7016 and let him know what you think of the county’s trash program.

You can also send an e-mail to Chief Operating Officer, Garry Earls, at gearls@stlouisco.com or give him a call at 615-5000 and ask to be transferred to the office of the Chief Operating Officer to let him know what you think of the county’s trash program.

Click here for video -

You Paid For It: St. Louis County Trash Program Video

Dooley Surrounding Himself with "Yes" Men (And Women)

St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley is moving to oust county Police Chief Jerry Lee, according to several county officials.

One source said Dooley was upset with Lee's public disagreement last month over police pay. Dooley has been seeking support for the ouster among members of the St. Louis County Council, said sources. Evidently Dooley wants to be surrounded by "Yes" men and women. If you don't agree, you may be fired.

Dooley is also reshaping the Board of Police Commissioners. The Board of Police Commissioners hires and fires the police chief, but if the board does not do what Executive Dooley wants, Dooley fires the board. In effect, the County Executive can hire and fire the Police Chief by manipulating the Police Commissioners.

Dooley's spokesman, Mac Scott, declined to discuss the reports." Jerry is the chief and Charlie thinks the county force is the best in the area," Scott said.

Aaaa, excuse me. This doesn't make sense. Dooley says the force is the best in the area so he wants to fire the Chief. This is obviously not a business decision but a political one.

Many feel that's the problem with St. Louis County today. Too much politics and declining business decisions.

Lee, 60, has been chief since 2004 and has been with the department for 39 years. Now we're being faced with losing an experienced law enforcement official because of a disagreement. Here's a man who may lose his job for sticking up for his force.

The disagreement over police pay became public last month. Lee said that $1.3 million that Dooley wanted to add to the police budget to hire 14 officers as part of a Youth Violence Initiative would be better spent on raises for his officers.

"I'd give that money to my people," Lee was quoted as saying. "I've expressed that opinion to administration." Dooley was irate over Lee's comments, a source said.

Several sources also cited a personality conflict between Lee and Garry Earls, the county's chief operating officer. Earls characterized his relationship with Lee as "cordial and professional."

Obviously, Earls is a "yes" man.

County Trash Explanation Amounts to An Apology

St. Louis County Chief Operating Officer, Garry Earls, sent a post card to subdivision trustees for what amounts to an apology for the mass confusion being experienced across the county for the county's trash program. One of the biggest complaints heard from trustees and residents is the lack of communication from the County. This effort is "after the fact." Any program the magnitude of the county-wide trash program should have included massive communications to all residents before implementation, not after.

Check the comments of residents posted to other articles at this website for their views.

Three trash haulers were selected by the county out of more than 20 serving the metro area. The other 17+ have been shut out. The county is now proposing legislation to apply heavy penalties to any hauler attempting to serve residents in any of their assigned eight trash districts with up to a year in jail and/or $1,000 in fines.

Who would have thought that collecting trash would result in jail time and/or fines?

If your subdivision is having problems with hauling of trash, contact County officials at 615-HAUL.

County Citizens Speak Up

The announcement this week of the county admitting the trash legislation is unenforceable raises a number of questions among county residents. We received more than a dozen messages from irate residents about the situation. Here are just a few:

· “Do you mean to say the County Council passed a regulation without any means to enforce it? Where was their attorney then?”

· “Who’s to blame for this mess? Charlie Dooley, the County’s attorney, Gary Earls?”

· “If this law cannot be enforced, I don’t know why I should pay for recycling costs as I don’t want to recycle.”

· “I know our County police have been crying for money and here the county pours it right down the drain with this boondoggle.”

· “Some of the statements attributed to Patricia Redington in today’s paper are outright lies. She said ‘We never said we were going to prosecute anyone who didn’t participate.’ I attended public meetings where county officials said they would prosecute all the way to include jail. What is she talking about?”

· “The big R-E-D machine thinks they can bully their way with the Council, citizens, businesses, their own police department and anybody they want. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way and it will eventually be fixed at the polls. (RED = Reddington, Earls, Dooley)”

· “There is so much crap going on in our County government, somebody needs to do something.”

· “Do you mean to say I changed trash haulers for nothing?”

..

County Says Financial Problems Loom Within 2-3 Years

Garry Earls, head of operations, issued a memo to department heads saying the county's general fund would be insolvent between 2010 and 2012. The current county budget is $504.9 million, up over 2.8% over last year. The main sources of revenue is property and sales tax.

Earls recently put restrictions on travel, purchases of over $1,000, a halt to discretionary spending, a review of cell phone use, and termination of all but critical contracts with consulting services.

Earl admits these policies alone will not fix the structural problems; however, they will help.

Bob Frohne, a sergeant with the county police department and president of the officers association, said Earls' "doom and gloom scenario" would undercut the association's request for higher pay. Midrange pay for county officers is about $52,000.

This past spring police and their supporters picketed the county's administration building demanding better benefits and higher salaries. Frohne cited a financial analysis that the association paid for which shows that the county's general fund revenues are in good shape.

He cited the county's general fund unreserved balance of about 25 percent of annual revenues and annual expenditures, saying balances in the single digits are adequate for the maintenance of a AAA bond rating. Earls countered that, healthy or not, unreserved fund balances cannot be tapped at to cover shortfalls in other areas. He said the general public probably would not notice the budget restraints.

Residents Blowing Whistle on Veolia; Complaints Mounting

Veolia Waste Management . . . Failure to provide service, May 27-July 2, 2008 . . . Failure to respond to customer complaints . . . Fraudulent billing of over $166.80 for services not rendered

The following letter was sent to Gary Earlls, Director of Public Works for St. Louis County. A West County resident in trash district 3, Rueben Thaker, says "no thanks" to County's trash program.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To Whom It May Concern:

The Saint Louis County Commission provided an unopposed service contract to Veolia, removing competition as an incentive for Veolia to provide professional service.

Under the system you created, no other company will now provide economical service to an area under exclusive contract. Customers are at the mercy of your contracted company without your intervention.

In just a few weeks, there service has been utmost negligent without redress, and incident/s which may be harassment. These issues arise with no provocation whatsoever. In fact, we gave Veolia business prior to the mandatory service date of July 1, 2008, and this is our reward.

Please advise how you will address this complaint against your contracted agents, in the situation you have created for this ‘zoning district’. I have better use of my time than writing about the garbage, but it is important that you remedy this at the outset. Thank you most kindly for your attention.

> From May 27 through July 2nd, I have called Veolia at least SEVEN times in complaint. NEVER has a called been returned. A person claiming to be the Director of Customer Service, “Southern Braband“, was called on or about June 26, 2008. She claimed she would return my call after reviewing the account. To date she has not done so, no one at Veolia ever has. I instructed her to change service over to my name on July 1, 2008, and no monies would be paid for negligent service May 27-June 30 as detailed below. Any monies received must be applied forward to any future billing.

> On 5.27.08 service was initiated on my property by Veolia Waste Management. On this day, their crew negligently left cans strewn about my driveway, nearly caused a vehicular accident that night as I did not expect cans laying in the driveway on returning home. They threw away my can lid, for which I demand $28 to replace this can.

> My complaint call on 5.28 is unanswered by Veolia.

> On or about 5.29, it came to my attention that a female associate about my residence, was ‘cat-called’ by their passing crew, causing concern and offense.

> On 6.2.08, Veolia failed to provide service. My complaint call was unanswered.

> On 6.3.08, I reached an agent, only then did they pick up the prior day’s trash, but unbelievably leaving the current day’s trash in place.

> Several days interim, trash was not collected. Veolia has never picked up trash two days in a row during any week at my residence, though I have simply lost count of days missed. In summary, over 5 weeks time, Veolia has picked up trash successfully 4-5 days.

> No trash pick up July 1 or July 2nd to date, though I have frankly lost count of the negligent service of this company, over the countless hours of complaint. No answer of their phone during regular business hours July 2.

. . . Reuben Thaker
.. http://www.quinntessential.com.au/Customer%20Complaint%20Iceberg-web.jpg

Hear What Garry Earls Said About County Trash Program

Compare what Garry Earls, Chief Operating Officer for St. Louis County, had to say about the county's trash program back in November 2007. Compare his comments to the situation today.
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/trash-controversy-in-st-louis-county/3914574787

County's recycling effort helps environment and saves money

Letters to the Editor, St. L Post-Dispatch, May 24, 2008

St. Louis County is committed to the environment. The County Council's amendment to the Solid Waste Code requires trash haulers to provide curbside recycling. The county distributed 100,000 single-stream recycling bins so that more than 300,000 county residents can recycle material that would otherwise be put in landfills. St. Louis County is proud of its leadership role in stimulating greater levels of recycling. The county is not profiting from this program; the benefit comes from conserving scarce landfill space, reducing our dependence on oil and conserving vital strategic resources. Consolidating trash districts will help us reduce truck traffic on our streets, improve the quality of life in our unincorporated communities and reduce the number of properties that don't have trash service, reducing the likelihood of illegal dumping.

For several years, recycling has been a voluntary effort with too little participation to make a difference in the volume of trash entering landfills. The state has mandated that St. Louis County residents reduce the amount of trash being sent to our landfills by half before 2010. So we must increase our recycling volume. This easily can be achieved by through single-stream, curbside recycling; however, hauler participation cannot be optional. Everyone who generates trash must help manage trash effectively.

Private-sector profit is part and parcel of America's economic engine. If trash haulers and recycling centers can benefit financially from recycling, it proves that the free market is alive and well in America's heartland. Benefits will be reflected in hauling rates throughout unincorporated St. Louis County, just as it has already in our Trash District 3, going into service July 1. Residents in this northwest county district will pay $11.60 a month for the first year of full-service residential trash disposal, including once-a-week curbside collection of residential trash and single-stream recycling as well as twice-a-year bulky item pick-up. The low price is partly because of the value of the materials being recycled.

Apparent low bids for the next three districts range from $12.09 to $12.40 per month. The price for senior citizens would be between $10.88 and $11.16 per month. Bids for the remaining districts will be opened later this month.

Recycling is a personal choice. While we encourage it and support it, we understand that many residents ultimately will choose not to participate. I hope that all residents will, in time, embrace St. Louis County's efforts to be more responsible with our environment.

. . . Garry W. Earls Clayton
Chief Operating Officer, St. Louis County Government

Have Your Trash Rates Taken a Jump?

Trash haulers blame the County. The County blames the trash haulers. In the meantime, county residents suffer with increased trash bills.

St. Louis County officials say they will ask the state attorney general's office to investigate. This is a bit ironic since the State Attorney General's office recently issued an opinion that St. Louis County is in violation of a state regulation requiring the county to give haulers a two year notice for implementation of their trash district program.

The county continues to move forward with the appointment of one hauler per trash district and claims prices will be drastically reduced. The county's chief operating officer, Garry Earls, said some residents in the county's unincorporated areas have received bills that are almost double their previous rates.

The county has selected a hauler for one district, with service slated to start July 1. It will open bids later this month for the other seven, where service is to start Oct. 1.

The county requires haulers to make weekly recyclables pickups which necessitated charging $5 to $8 a month for that service. Earls said he has asked the St. Louis County counselor's office to look at possible legal violations and will then contact the attorney general.

While Residents Battle County on Trash, St. L County Police Battles County for Pay

While County officials have enough problems on their hands with their trash program, now our own St. Louis County Police Officers Association is doing battle with County officials and the County Council.

The St. Louis County Police Officers Association is a Chapter of the National Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #15 and has a long tradition of maintaining the highest standards for our police officers in St. Louis County. Unfortunately, St. Louis County Government has created a situation where they are experiencing serious problems in recruiting qualified police recruits and retaining exper1enced officers.

Last year the St. Louis County Police Department lost 67 experienced police officers and civilian employees through resignation or early retirement. Many of these employees felt they had no choice but to leave the County Police Department for careers with competing departments or other employers offering better pay and lower out of pocket family health insurance costs. Police officers are paying 22.4% of their Gross wages just to provide health insurance for their families. For a dispatcher it's 28.15%. That's roughly 50% of their take home pay gone before paying any bills or putting food on their tables.

Our police officers pay has not kept pace with surrounding police departments, which has left us ranked 33rd of the top 44 police departments in the area. This situation has been brought to the attention of County Executive Charlie Dooley and Chief Operating Officer Garry Earls by the Police Association at several County Council meetings as well as private conferences. Mr. Earls stated he believes the St. Louis County Police is the finest police department in the area and should be ranked somewhere in the top 5 to 10 police departments in pay.

After meeting with Mr. Dooley and Mr. Earls and confirming they were aware of the problem, the Association conducted a study and created a fiscally responsible plan to restructure our pay scale to correct this situation. The plan was designed to slowly scale our officer's pay up to position 10 in the St. Louis area over a three year period. The County's budget was examined and it was determined they could easily cover this plan with a fraction of a new revenue stream created in 2007 by an already established cell phone tax, earmarked for LAW ENFORCEMENT USE.

As of the rapidly approaching end to the first quarter in 2008, Mr. Dooley and Mr. Earls have spent most of this revenue stream on other issues (think "trash") and have continued to disregard the problems within the Police Department.

After cutting merit raises by 40% in 2004 and with out of pocket family insurance costs outpacing any salary increases, many experienced officers were left with no option but to seek other employment. In 2008, the cut in merit raises was corrected but, after 4 years, the damage was already done.

Your St. Louis County Police would like every tax paying citizen and business owner in St. Louis County to contact St. Louis County executive Charlie Dooley and ask him to address this critical situation at your police department. With help from county residents, the St. Louts County Police Department will continue to provide the same excellent police services they have since its inception in 1955.

St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley can be e-mailed at cdooley@stlouisco.com or please address a letter to the County Executive’s attention at 41 South Central Ave., Clayton MO
63105. Please send a copy of your message to: St. Louis County Police Officers Association President, Bob Frohne at: bfrohne@slcpa.org.

.

.

County Isn’t Listening

From "Letters to the Editor," St. Louis Post Dispatch, 2/21/08
~~~
Regarding “27% opt-out of trash districts” : Does Saint Louis County realize what it is saying? When Garry Earls, the county’s chief operating officer, says that if individual residents were allowed to opt-out of the trash districting plan, the plan would not work, What is he thinking?

More than 12% of the subdivisions in Spanish Lake and more than 47% in Oakville asked to opt-out of the “monopoly plan.” Everyone in County government should be listening and making immediate plans to reevaluate. But no - it’s already been decided. With the complicated “rules” for opting out, we will see if any subdivisions are approved.

Mr. Earls says that if a lot of households were allowed to opt out, it would increase the cost of trash service. That tells me that the plan is seriously flawed. Residents should be given the choice. Many residents in both north and south county deliberately are being disenfranchised.

This is not the American way. The goal of easing truck traffic and encouraging recycling can be handled in simpler, better ways. Other cities and states are doing amazing things with recycling. St. Louis County is hitting residents with sledgehammers to make politicians and big corporation’s rich.

. . . . Barbi Diehl, Oakville

Trash Foes Push To Stop Program Not Wanted

Several elected officials from south St. Louis County who oppose trash collection districts in the unincorporated county on Friday urged other elected officials to join their cause. A bipartisan group of officials standing together could use its clout to persuade county officials to abandon the idea, Rep. Jim Lembke, R-South County, said at a news conference. Also speaking were Rep. Walt Bivins, R-Oakville; St. Louis County Councilman John Campisi, R-South County, and Tom Diehl, a leader in the opposition to a proposed trash transfer station in Oakville and now a member of the Mehlville School Board.

Lembke said, "If leaders from both parties unite in opposition, we can stop the monopoly plan the people do not want."

Garry Earls, the county's chief operating officer, estimated Friday that haulers would charge householders less than $15 a month to remove trash and recylables in the unincorporated area. That's less than many current fees. Mr. Earls continues to ignore the fact that many County residents pay up to 30% LESS than $15. The bottom line is many will be paying more, while some will be paying less.

For more info: http://tinyurl.com/25lp2s



Click on picture to enlarge!!!

Resident Finds Fault With Statements From County Officials

I can’t believe some of the comments that appear in the press. For instance, in the Post Dispatch on January 6 -

Garry Earls, Chief Operating Officer of the County said, “We want to give unincorporated areas what 70 percent of the county already has.” (I can only assume Mr. Earls is saying that 30% of the county has poor trash services. This is far too high and is not a credible statement.)

Earls said the county wants to provide residents of the unincorporated area with efficient trash collection at a fair and reasonable cost. Collections are the most effective way of increasing recycling, he said. The cost to homeowners could be cheaper in trash districts than with individual haulers, Earls said.

The fact is, many homeowners are receiving excellent trash hauling services and paying in the $10-12 per month range. The bottom line is these people will receive sizable increases to subsidize others who are paying more. This is of no concern to Mr. Earls as he lives in an area that does not come under the new trash regulations.

Some residents will get screwed. The question is, will you be the screw-er or the screw-ee?

. . . . Anonymous

Trash trucks might start rolling earlier in the morning

St. Louis County government is asking St. Ann, as well as all other municipalities, to allow commercial vehicles such as garbage trucks to operate on city streets earlier in the morning.

The aim is to have the vehicles off the main roads during peak travel hours.Garry Earls, the county's chief operating officer and head of the Department of Highways and Traffic, has asked mayors throughout the county to review ordinances governing commercial vehicles' hours of operation.

"That's all part and parcel of our traffic-mitigation efforts," said David Wrone, spokesman for the agency. "It's not going to behoove anyone to have trash trucks and delivery trucks on the roads during peak hours."

County traffic engineers estimate that secondary roads such as Midland Avenue could see as much as a 20-percent increase in traffic after Jan. 2 when a portion of Highway 40 is shut down. The volume on larger highways such as Page Avenue and St. Charles Rock Road is expected to increase significantly, as vehicles that usually use Highway 40 are forced to find alternate east-west routes.

But because cities were notified as late as they were by Earls, any easing of the ordinances might not take place as quickly as county officials would like. Wrone acknowledged that local governments might be reluctant to ease such restrictions, especially when it comes to the trash-collection vehicles.

"This is a politically sensitive issue," he said. "Residents do not want to be awakened at 4:30 in the morning."