Last night, at Council, Trane presented a proposal for supposed energy conservation improvements in Whitewater’s public buildings.
Total proposed project cost: $1,924,749.
It was a galling presentation – some of the items were not about energy savings, at all. Of others, it was work that city staff could do now, or do when necessary (rather than when Trane wants, much sooner, to make a buck on taxpayers.)
Whitewater, with a population of about fifteen thousand, is a small Midwestern town. Places like this are imagined to be – and should be – simply run.
There’s a role for consultants and outside vendors, but it should be a limited one.
If this municipal administration cannot make simple things happen without ‘comprehensive’ proposals for vendor contracts, then perhaps Trane should run the municipal entire administration. We’d have fewer middlemen that way.
When one hears a department head from this city insist that if Trane doesn’t get all it wants now, the city will have to find another contractor next year, one feels obligated to ask:
Do you think you’re working at NASA?
Here’s an offer of assistance, without charge or expectation: No one who works at 312 W. Whitewater Street works for NASA.
Nor are we are a flush private corporation, but a city of diverse residents, most of whom need not pay for work that white-collar bureaucrats think might be a good idea, etc., etc. Those who wish to enrich Trane should, with their own money, invest in that large, eager-to-sell-to-municipalities enterprise.
They shouldn’t ask ordinary residents to foot the bill for superfluous work.
Council was right to hold off approving this over-stuffed idea; when it comes back, a line-by-line justification will be in order.
Yikes! You’re absolutely correct in calling this proposal “over-stuffed”.
Recommending things like siding replacement at Starin Park is certainly compelling, given its almost immediate 628 year payback (sarcasm intended). It is ludicrous that this proposal made it to Council in its current form. I see that the recommendation from “staff”, the Parks and Rec Director does cull out a few items to exclude from immediate attention but all-in-all, I think some payback goals should be set and then this proposal should undergo a complete financial-centric line item review with those goals in mind. I’m just saying.