Garbage trucks just a bond away

Thursday, Oct 2 2008, 10:09 pm

A recent article in the Sun-Herald described the problems regarding waste collection facing the city of Colusa. To replace a low-emission collection truck would cost the city about $280,000. Why doesn’t the city apply for financing through the California Pollution Control Financing Authority Bond Financing Program?

The Ratto Group of Companies obtained approximately $42.6 million in 2007, $9.8 million in 2001 and $7.6 million in 2002 to upgrade their equipment and to obtain property for a truck maintenance station through this program. The property obtained belonged to a subsidiary of the Ratto Group. The Cortina Landfill Co., one of the developers of the Cortina Solid Waste Landfill, is a subsidiary of North Bay Corp., a subsidiary of the Ratto Group of Companies.

If this private group with all its subsidiaries that sell themselves between themselves can obtain funding, why can’t Colusa? What the city needs is peanuts compared to what the Ratto Group received.

Anyone can verify this information from the financing program. The decisions regarding the funding of each applicant are posted in the executive summaries of the meetings.

Good luck to the city of Colusa.

Vernette Marsh

Davis

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Reader's comments

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fyi - Oct 09, 2008 09:11:42 AM	Remove Comment


I just want one person to explain why the Colusa Town and Country shopping center lost its large dump ben over 6 years ago when I was told it was because they were phasing them out. Why do others still have them ? No politics here I just want our big garbage can back. Does it really take over 6 years to phase them out ? Just anothe example of how the City of Colusa has never supported the shopping center. Get an outside source if its going to save us all money as I could care less about local employment. If hiring local means taking money out of my pocket then get an outside source.
Pete - Oct 08, 2008 08:25:59 PM	Remove Comment


Pete and Vernette, First I was at the City Council meeting when this was first brought up. Pat Colusa Parks Manager and now Wastewater Utilities Manager said that the city would like to keep the garbage service due to the city jobs it provided. Also they did not want to have to buy the equipment necessary to meet the states requirements. The same Representative that you may have talked to Pete was in that meeting. He did not solicit his company but did inform the City Council that they or any other large garbage service could do it cheaper than the route the city was looking at. Later that night the City Council spent more time trying to approve pay raises for themselves than on this topic. Priorities? The people on the Council do not have the experience or the knowledge to hold the office that they are in. As for the Grant money that would take knowledge of the system. It would also take time which due to the low amount of money these elected officials make is something they do not want to put out. Remember City Council Members this is a voluntary position so if you don’t want to donate your time for the money get out of office. There are others that would like the job. Again to know this you need to have worked in areas more geared to City Planning, Construction Management, Engineering or even a state type position. Our Elected Officials have more of a concern for getting their agendas or friends taken care of before the rest of the residents, cities, actual needs.
chris - Oct 07, 2008 03:47:39 PM	Remove Comment


Give the garbage service to an outside source. I have already heard that it would be cheaper to go with an outside source so why not make the move ? Not only that but 6 years ago the city of colusa took one of the large dump bens from us at the shopping center as they told me they were getting rid of the big dump bens. That was 6 years ago. Today Burger King still have one of the large bens. Now I thought they were getting rid of them but I guess it takes over 6 years to make this happen. Just another lie from the people that should know whats going on. I called and talked to the group that takes care of garbage in the williams area and they told me the prices. Its far below what we are all paying. I know they can't serve our needs at the Colusa Shopping center and the Williams group can.
Pete Moore - Oct 04, 2008 08:51:48 AM	Remove Comment

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