Marikay Abuzuaiter said from the floor at tonight's Council meeting that emails to the City are running 9-1 against reopening the White Street landfill.
The ratio of speakers in opposition to those in favor tonight was much higher than that. In fact, if there was one in favor, I missed it.
People from across the city (including one in absentia) asked the Council at the least to move more slowly and conduct a more thorough and transparent process. An attorney said regulators will not allow long-term expansion of the site. Questions were raised about the use of private contractors to run the dump, and the uncounted costs of reopening it.
TDBS pointed out that the new RFP has been percolating for all of a week.
The Mayor tells the people who just told him they're concerned not to be concerned, based on his conversations with people in Winston-Salem and Wake County.
Trudy Wade moves to approve a Gate City Waste Services, for only City waste.
Jim Kee says the landfill Knight mentioned in Raleigh is closed. Speaks well at length. Tells the crowd it's not over.
Perkins says he finds it incredible that a vote is being considered after all those eloquent words from the floor. Asks if thought, preparation, and process have been adequate. Says the outcome has been manipulated. "Appalling." Postpone, do research, look into cost savings from other options. What we're doing is the worst-case scenario, using all capacity with no further plan in place.
TDBS motion to table for 90 days, we need to know why third-cheapest bidder is getting the nod.
Thompson: Under scenario proposed by Wade -- City only trash -- GCWS is actually second-cheapest.
Perkins: Need an explanation for that vendor, or will vote to postpone and and investigate.
Motion to postpone fails 3-4.
TDBS asks, don't we usually look at lowest responsible bid.
Manager says evaluation includes more than price.
TDBS says, are we in a position to vote without knowing what went into that decision?
Wade's motion passes 4-3.
Earlier, the full Council unanimously voted to grant incentives to HondaJet. That was a nice moment, but it didn't last long.
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