One of the biggest surprises – and announcements – from Mayor Tom Henry’s State of the City address had little to do with city government at all.A national consultant will help Fort Wayne determine what type of garbage collection services should be offered in the future.
The Board of Public Works on Wednesday hired Gershman, Brickner & Bratton for up to $50,000 to provide consulting services for a new garbage contract.
Bob Kennedy, director of public works, oversees the garbage contractor. Kennedy said the city’s solid waste committee helped select the consultant to aid its work in creating the specifications for the next contract.
Committee members – who include neighborhood representatives and City Council members – met the consultants for the first time this week, Kennedy said. They were impressed, as was he.
“Their knowledge base is really going to add a lot to this process,” he said.
The firm, based in Fairfax, Va., has done work for New Orleans, Nashville, Tenn., and Baltimore, among other communities.
One of the first local changes suggested by the consultant was to open some of the committee’s meetings to the public. The first public meeting will be this month, but Kennedy said the details have not been set.
Hiring a consultant was part of the city’s one-year extension with National Serv-All, although Kennedy said the city would have looked at using one anyway. The city last year had to reject all the proposals it received for garbage collection after questions arose about the legality of the process.
The city hopes to release its contract for bid by July 1.
