County silences potential trash contractors
New rules limits who bidders can talk to about recycling options
Photo by GLENN WOJCIAK Medina County commissioners (from left) Adam Friedrick, Pat Geissman and Bill Hutson have authorized a “period of silence” for potential bidders to resume recycling operations at the county’s Central Processing Facility for trash.
MEDINA – Vendors interested in bidding on a contract to initiate recycling operations at the county’s Central Processing Facility have been restricted from talking to some county officials about their proposals.
Steve Viny, chief operating officer for Envision Waste Services, asked Medina County commissioners why a “period of silence” was included in instructions issued by the county when they requested potential bidders to submit their qualifications before preparing a bid package.
Viny said the period of silence had not been a part of previous bid packages related to operations at the CPF which Envision operated for 20 years before the county shut down trash sorting operations there in favor a more economical recycling program in which residents take their recyclables to drop-off bins placed around the county.
Viny asked commissioners to remove the “period of silence” stipulation from the current RFQ so that vendors like him could discuss with county officials provisions in the bid package which he says are likely to drive up costs for a potential mixed waste processing program to supplement the current drop-off program for recycling.
Commissioner Adam Friedrick said the “period of silence” limits vendors to discussing their questions with the sanitary engineer, who is managing the bid process and was introduced because of problems created in the past when vendors spoke with public officials about previous bids relating to trash and recycling contracts issued by the county.
“The process was continually derailed by contractors speaking to public officials in the past,” Friedrick said. “Anyone with questions and concerns now can take them to the sanitary engineer.”
Transit report
Medina County Public Transit experienced its highest ridership of the year in August, according to the latest report issued by Transit Director Mike Salamone.
Salamone told county commissioners Sept. 19 that MCPT provided 6,308 trips to riders in August raising the year-to-date total ridership to 47,750.
The August trips were split equally between MCPT fixed route buses operating in Brunswick, Medina and Wadsworth and the on-demand service in which riders call in advance to schedule a trip. Salamone reported MCPT transported 371 clients on on-demand route buses in August.
Salamone also reported he has submitted a grant to the Federal Transit Administration requesting $301,000 to purchase four buses, $176,000 for preventive maintenance and $394,000 for operating expenses.
Salamone also has submitted grant requests for about $370,000 from three state agencies and reported that MCPT should soon receive $319,000 from the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Agency to help operate buses in Brunswick.
Gasoline purchase
Great Lakes Petroleum of Cleveland won a bid to sell the Medina County Engineering Center 7,300 gallons of regular unleaded gasoline for approximately $1.56 per gallon.
Grants
County commissioners authorized the acceptance and expenditure of funds awarded to the county through a variety of grant applications. Among the grants approved by commissioners were $2,900 from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation for the Sheriff Department’s K-9 Fund and $5,825 from the Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative to purchase three radar units for sheriff’s patrol cars.
In addition, commissioners approved an increase in a grant award from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction from $53,000 to $89,000 for programs run by the Adult Probation Department and another $824,000 from the same agency to run alternatives to prison programs for two years.
Commissioners also accepted a $700,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women for a three-year program run by the Medina County Domestic Relations Court.
Maintenance agreement
County commissioners approved a new agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management to manage the maintenance of the county’s fleet of vehicles. The agreement calls for Enterprise to be paid $6 per vehicle for scheduling repairs at a variety of independent garages around the county.
Appointee
Commissioners appointed Melissa Pearce to a two-year term on the Medina County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board. She replaces Susana Lewis on the board.
Annexation hearing
Commissioners scheduled a public hearing at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 14 to hear comments on a petition to annex 5.5 acres from Brunswick Township to the City of Brunswick.
Personnel expenses
Commissioners authorized the expenses for several county employees to attend a series of out-of-town meetings and training seminars. Among those expenses were $1,000 for four sheriff’s deputies to attend a two-day program on stalkers held in Marion, $800 for two employees in the Child Support Enforcement Agency to receive two days of training in Columbus, $350 for County Recorder Colleen Swedyk to attend a three-day conference in Columbus and $325 for five employees in the Office for Older Adults to attend a program on ethical supervision in Wadsworth.
Steve Viny, chief operating officer for Envision Waste Services, asked Medina County commissioners why a “period of silence” was included in instructions issued by the county when they requested potential bidders to submit their qualifications before preparing a bid package.
Viny said the period of silence had not been a part of previous bid packages related to operations at the CPF which Envision operated for 20 years before the county shut down trash sorting operations there in favor a more economical recycling program in which residents take their recyclables to drop-off bins placed around the county.
Viny asked commissioners to remove the “period of silence” stipulation from the current RFQ so that vendors like him could discuss with county officials provisions in the bid package which he says are likely to drive up costs for a potential mixed waste processing program to supplement the current drop-off program for recycling.
Commissioner Adam Friedrick said the “period of silence” limits vendors to discussing their questions with the sanitary engineer, who is managing the bid process and was introduced because of problems created in the past when vendors spoke with public officials about previous bids relating to trash and recycling contracts issued by the county.
“The process was continually derailed by contractors speaking to public officials in the past,” Friedrick said. “Anyone with questions and concerns now can take them to the sanitary engineer.”
Transit report
Medina County Public Transit experienced its highest ridership of the year in August, according to the latest report issued by Transit Director Mike Salamone.
Salamone told county commissioners Sept. 19 that MCPT provided 6,308 trips to riders in August raising the year-to-date total ridership to 47,750.
The August trips were split equally between MCPT fixed route buses operating in Brunswick, Medina and Wadsworth and the on-demand service in which riders call in advance to schedule a trip. Salamone reported MCPT transported 371 clients on on-demand route buses in August.
Salamone also reported he has submitted a grant to the Federal Transit Administration requesting $301,000 to purchase four buses, $176,000 for preventive maintenance and $394,000 for operating expenses.
Salamone also has submitted grant requests for about $370,000 from three state agencies and reported that MCPT should soon receive $319,000 from the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Agency to help operate buses in Brunswick.
Gasoline purchase
Great Lakes Petroleum of Cleveland won a bid to sell the Medina County Engineering Center 7,300 gallons of regular unleaded gasoline for approximately $1.56 per gallon.
Grants
County commissioners authorized the acceptance and expenditure of funds awarded to the county through a variety of grant applications. Among the grants approved by commissioners were $2,900 from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation for the Sheriff Department’s K-9 Fund and $5,825 from the Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative to purchase three radar units for sheriff’s patrol cars.
In addition, commissioners approved an increase in a grant award from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction from $53,000 to $89,000 for programs run by the Adult Probation Department and another $824,000 from the same agency to run alternatives to prison programs for two years.
Commissioners also accepted a $700,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women for a three-year program run by the Medina County Domestic Relations Court.
Maintenance agreement
County commissioners approved a new agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management to manage the maintenance of the county’s fleet of vehicles. The agreement calls for Enterprise to be paid $6 per vehicle for scheduling repairs at a variety of independent garages around the county.
Appointee
Commissioners appointed Melissa Pearce to a two-year term on the Medina County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board. She replaces Susana Lewis on the board.
Annexation hearing
Commissioners scheduled a public hearing at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 14 to hear comments on a petition to annex 5.5 acres from Brunswick Township to the City of Brunswick.
Personnel expenses
Commissioners authorized the expenses for several county employees to attend a series of out-of-town meetings and training seminars. Among those expenses were $1,000 for four sheriff’s deputies to attend a two-day program on stalkers held in Marion, $800 for two employees in the Child Support Enforcement Agency to receive two days of training in Columbus, $350 for County Recorder Colleen Swedyk to attend a three-day conference in Columbus and $325 for five employees in the Office for Older Adults to attend a program on ethical supervision in Wadsworth.