4/3/1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Tom Aldridge, lifetime resident of the county, just heard about this rate increase on the radio this morning. He had no complaints on the service, but as a wage earner, was concerned about the 62% increase. He believed that Commissioner Scurlock's delving into the matter raised some interesting questions as to the 55% increase in expenses, the 46% increase in salaries, but only a 6% increase in wages. Commissioner Scurlock explained that Harris hired a full time supervisor for Indian River County and his salary accounts for most of the 46% increase in salaries, but Mr. Aldridge likened the disparity to the time when one of the big three auto companies gave the upper echelon a tremendous pay raise and the guys on the line got zero. Mr. Aldridge didn't feel that the customers should be held responsible for paying for Harris's assets such as land or equipment. He felt the 62% increase is not acceptable. Gene Waddell,member of the School Board, was concerned about the service provided by the two trash collectors, because they do not pick up palm fronds, trimmings, or anything bigger than what will fit in a plastic trash bag. He understood that the residential property owners are currently paying $52.80 a year in their ad valorem taxes for space in the Landfill, and then pay one of the two trash collecting firms to haul their trash to the Landfill. He felt the Board should be looking at what services the two firms provide for the money they charge, because it seemed to him that something is amiss when one has to either own a trailer or a truck or contract further to take away the larger material that the haulers won't. Commissioner Scurlock felt that matter would be worked out during the establishment of mandatory collection and our recycling program. The City of Vero Beach presently has that special pickup for some types of materials including appliances, etc., which are difficult to get to the Landfill. 27 GOOK