Here & There Column 1-22-08

Studies Just Add To The Cost Of Government

Every time we turn around we read or hear of this government agency or that municipality making decisions to finance a study of this or that proposed project.
Makes one begin to think why voters take the time or make the effort to elect legislators to government positions
The Sullivan County legislature was expected to make a decision last week that could cost an estimated $20,000 to study what to do with the county landfill.
The Sullivan County Legislature's Public Works Committee are looking at alternatives to the proposed Phase II Expansion of the County landfill.
A decision has to be made to either move ahead with the Phase II Expansion or should the county go with the long-term exportation of the county's solid waste.
The county financially has both the building of a new jail and the landfill issue to tackle.
The decision regarding the landfill is whether it make "financial sense", as one legislator said, or go with the possible closing of the landfill and the exportation of the county's solid waste.
Then comes a decision that a study is needed and this could cost in the neighborhood of $20,000.
Legislator Alan Sorensen says, "the debt related to the county landfill clearly shows that the County's "Trash for Cash" policy is fatally flawed."
County Manager David Fanslau also made indications that the county may not be able to afford Phase II.
Legislator Sorensen introduced a resolution that the county manager issue a request for proposals for the long-term exportation of the county's solid waste.
It has been pointed out that the county is projected to lose another $2.7 million in 2008 with the continued operation of the landfill.
It's certainly a factor and it was pointed out by another legislator that there is no option involving the landfill that will not bear a significant cost.
Decisions that were made some years ago to import garbage so that this would add money to the county coffers and help keep taxes down is now in some quarters being debated at not the most brilliant move our county politicians have ever made.
It appears that there has been some serious studies already made by the county legislature and we the county residents have made the effort to elect what we hope are responsible and intelligent members of our legislature..
..We feel that they should make a decision on this matter and ditch a $20,000 study and use these funds for a more useful benefit to county taxpayers.