Another "New Business Enterprise" -

Apparently there is another new business enterprise taking shape with some familiar faces, and familiar names, right at the helm of the new undertaking.
Sort of like the new business enterprise that was formed specifically to service the City of New Albany's Sanitation services. In a "privatization" deal that took bids from, at that time, a non-existent company... (aren't there guidelines about who can submit bids for City contracts), a fictional, or more accurately an 'imaginary', company was awarded the $1.9 million annual City contract for the next 5 years.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, and I don't believe I am here, there is a built-in option for an extension of said contract for another 3 years, as well as guaranteed annual rate increases. hmmmmmm

Now, and here's the real kicker folks: The gentleman that submitted the winning sanitation bid, and conceived of the new enterprise with a proposal for a new start-up operation, refuses to name his new business partners. Uh-huh.
I'm pretty sure that a contract entered into by the City on behalf of its Citizens is subject to a few disclosure laws. Taxpayers are entitled to know who these people are, and which Council members may have a vested interest in same.

Here's where things start getting real interesting...
We don't know if formal adoption papers have been filed, but Mayor Garner is said to have taken a real interest in the successes of one young new Council Member, and always makes sure his 'boy' is taken care of.
About 4-6 weeks before all this contracting was done, At-Large Council Member, and former Sanitation worker/supervisor/worker, Donnie Blevins, was questionably transferred from sanitation to the Street Department, seemingly 'out-of-harms-way' from the anticipated fall-out resulting from privatization.
Ah, but contraire my friends.

CM Blevins has launched another new enterprise (probably appropriately) named the City's Sanitation Boy's (bad grammar included), and is drumming up business out in the County. The notice Sellersburg residents received stated they would be handling City and County trash pickup. Some Council members are aware this is happening, but were under the impression it was to strictly be for the County. Some Council members state it was on the table BEFORE the privatization contract went down, but thought it was nixed.

We believe that any City Council action, which required a vote, taken in regards to Sanitation Department, should be re-addressed with the abstaining vote of CM Donnie Blevins taken into account.
There are obvious conflicts of interest, then and now, and for the future.

Finally, and who are Donnie Blevins' partners? Who financed his new "start-up" business? Who's equipment is he using, or how is he buying his own? Last time I heard, saitation workers don't make that much money, That's what R&R had to say... Oh yeah (paraphrasing of course), 'sanitation work is nothing to aspire to become. You people are ranting to save jobs that are at the bottom of the economic scale.' Oh, but we fought back saying a city job has certain "advantages".

Still, we never knew advantages like financing an expensive start-up business would be one of them, and I'm sure the rest of the guys who signed on at $12 something an hour would love to come back and get the deal Donnie got.

Donnie, how many times can you throw your scruples under the bus? But, it sure explains a lot. That's why you don't have any anymore.
It's a shame people have to be so "bought & sold" in this town. A real shame. But, like we keep saying, the devil's in the details, and we intend to take a close look at the details on this one.