Efficiency In FS Sanitation

Submitted by Jack Swink on Fri, 06/22/2012 - 8:12am

If efficiency is the quest for our city administration and sanitation department, then why are we ignoring the 2012 budget for the Administration of Sanitation?  This is not the Operations portion of sanitation, but the supervisory and administration support portion only.  The Fort Smith 2012 budget for the Administration portion is $702,242, while the same department for 2012 in Jonesboro is only $242,863.  And we all know there is no charge for trash pickup to the residents in Jonesboro, it is provided through the 8.5% sales tax.

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Comments

Jack figure in Jonesbouro Land Fill

Submitted by Bradley Martin on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 6:18pm.

Jack figure in Jonesboro Land Fill. The land fill operation here is owned by the Fort Smith sanitation and in your favorite town it is a regional land fill. Also the population of Jonesboro is less than Fort Smith.

Bradley I now unterstand why

Submitted by randy on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 8:22pm.

In 2005, the city of Fort Smith helped lengthen southern end of the trolley route just a bit more, traversing the street from the front entrance of the Fort Smith National Cemetery to the rear of the Fort Smith Convention Center, and adding a special automated crossing signal for the trolley. This Trolley and Interurban webring site is owned by Bradley Martin. Now understand why you are always on the City's side no matter what. You have a lot to gain. Bradley Martin

Bradley Martin' City of Fort Smiths unofficial cheerleader'

Submitted by randy on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 8:11pm.

Your comment"Also the population of Jonesboro is less than Fort Smith." By the way Fort Smith is going Jonesboro might over take Fort Smith in population in a few years. What was Jonesboro growth rate in the last 10 years? What was Fort Smiths growth rate the past 10 years? Our BOD should be worried more on job loses than trash carts,convention center, the minor things and worry about replacing all the lost jobs and unemployment.

Sanitation is Approximately 3 times Jonesboro's budget

Submitted by Jack Swink on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 9:53pm.

Bradley, the above numbers in my blog reflect the FS sanitation's administration portion only, not the operations portion. The same budget in FS is 3 TIMES what Jonesboro's sanitation budget is for the same administration portion. And Jonesboro's population of 67,823,is not that far behind FS and closing fast. Jonesboro's growth over the past 10 years has been 21%, while FS has had an anemic growth of 7% growht over the same period. Jonesboro doesn't have a convention center, so the myth about the convention center being a business magnet just doesn't hold water, but together with the A&P lost $1 million last year. Why it is scaled down, who knows? For all you baseball and soccer fans, check out what a 8.5% sales tax can do. The following link for Jonesboro 14 tournament baseball fields and 18 tournament soccer fields all located at one, 110acre park: http:www.jonesborotournaments.com/page/show/164445-our-fields
Bradley, the above numbers in my blog reflect the FS sanitation's administration portion only, not the operations portion. The same budget in FS is 3 TIMES what Jonesboro's sanitation budget is for the same administration portion. And Jonesboro's population of 67,823,is not that far behind FS and closing fast. Jonesboro's growth over the past 10 years has been 21%, while FS has had an anemic growth of 7% growht over the same period. Jonesboro doesn't have a convention center, so the myth about the convention center being a business magnet just doesn't hold water, but together with the A&P lost $1 million last year. Why it is ...>> Read the entire comment.

It's Friday afternoon and there they go down there again..

Submitted by Generation4 on Mon, 06/25/2012 - 9:00am.

..back to those farms with the airstrips on them. So what percentage of Jonesboros population lives in 8 - 10 tall buildings? If it's 35-40% that might drastically change sanitation costs. Not to mention if when you see an airstrip it also means an airplane and that might tend to help the city on sales tax money from Monday until Friday afternoon. Now factor in what they made on aluminum cans from Paragould!

Waste Management Provides Bags For Residents As Alternative

Submitted by Jack Swink on Tue, 06/26/2012 - 8:13am.

One of my clients customers in Centerton was telling me about his trash pickup from the city's contracted trash provider. For those who are unable or for one reason or another don't want the big containers, can buy bags for the garbage at approximately $1.75 per bag. These bags are then laid out at the curb on trash day, problem solved. But then again, this is the result of a private company competiting in the market place to keep the residents happy, therefore keeping their contract. This still doesn't compare to how Jonesboro approaches trash collection. Residents in Jonesboro aren't charged for sanitation, it is provided through the 8.5% sales tax. Of course the City of Fort Smith has a 9.25% sales tax and the city still charges an additional $13 plus tax for trash pickup
One of my clients customers in Centerton was telling me about his trash pickup from the city's contracted trash provider. For those who are unable or for one reason or another don't want the big containers, can buy bags for the garbage at approximately $1.75 per bag. These bags are then laid out at the curb on trash day, problem solved. But then again, this is the result of a private company competiting in the market place to keep the residents happy, therefore keeping their contract. This still doesn't compare to how Jonesboro approaches trash collection. Residents in Jonesboro aren't charged for sanitation, it is provided through the 8.5% ...>> Read the entire comment.

focus inward, Jack

Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/26/2012 - 10:58am.

Jack, talk to your Fayetteville friends. All of their yard waste must go in paper sacks. It takes several to put out green waste and they generally tear in the process of filling them. You can easily spend an extra $30-35 during the summer months. Recycle products must be segregated by type. We have it good here. As archaic as it sounds, recycling remains voluntary. Yard waste collection is efficient and forgiving. You remain hellbent on destroying the integrity of this department and the man who heads it. If you would just look over your shoulder, you'll see you are only leading a very small group of angry old white men. The rest of us are supporting Mr. Nkokheli, his programs and his management. If you would give the guy half a chance, you'll see he has a future plan that shows a progressive approach to waste management. Unfortunately for us who want progressive change, the man leading the charge knows at every turn there will be the likes of you, impeding technology and change. All of this is quite surprising, knowing that this change means less cost and planet damage.

anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/26/2012 - 10:58am.

Submitted by randy on Tue, 06/26/2012 - 11:43am.

Don't know you or Jack but why would you make racial remarks? You stated"If you would just look over your shoulder, you'll see you are only leading a very small group of angry old white men." Old and white? Why would you use this language?

Anonymous Your language

Submitted by randy on Tue, 06/26/2012 - 5:11pm.

In plain English you are a bigot. Webster's define you as " a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance" Did I hit the nail on the head?

hatred, intolerance, opinions and prejudices

Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/27/2012 - 10:44am.

How does this work for you, Randy? Jack, please move away.

No, Let's Focus on the Average Taxpayers

Submitted by Jack Swink on Tue, 06/26/2012 - 12:40pm.

Anon, let's debate Jonesboro. What is so wrong with residents inside the city limits of Jonesboro not being charged for sanitation. Jonesboro has a 8.5% sales tax and FS has a 9.25% sales tax, but residents are still charged $13 plus tax for sanitation. Jonesboro is outside the NWA growth area, doesn't have a interstate or river, doesn't even have a convention center, yet they are growing 3Xs faster than Fort Smith. Ray Gosack noted in the past, 7500 gallons of water usuage was $69, but this is before sanitation and taxes were added. Jonesboro charges $33.28 for the same city services that FS charges $84.50. Why anon? FS forces the taxpayers to lease and operate a privately owned Ferris wheel and Mayor Sanders refuses to scale back the convention center freeing up more tax dollars to benefit the average taxpayers. I urge you to look at my most recent blog on the 110 acre ball and soccer park in Jonesboro and then tell me where are their priorities?
Anon, let's debate Jonesboro. What is so wrong with residents inside the city limits of Jonesboro not being charged for sanitation. Jonesboro has a 8.5% sales tax and FS has a 9.25% sales tax, but residents are still charged $13 plus tax for sanitation. Jonesboro is outside the NWA growth area, doesn't have a interstate or river, doesn't even have a convention center, yet they are growing 3Xs faster than Fort Smith. Ray Gosack noted in the past, 7500 gallons of water usuage was $69, but this is before sanitation and taxes were added. Jonesboro charges $33.28 for the same city services that FS charges $84.50. Why anon? FS forces the taxpayers to ...>> Read the entire comment.

OK, Jack

Submitted by Statistics (not verified) on Tue, 06/26/2012 - 3:58pm.

Ok, Jack, let's play the statistics game. You speak of Jonesboro's population growth outpacing Fort Smith's. This is true but Jonesboro had a much smaller population to begin with, therefor it's percentage increase should be larger. Secondly, Jonesboro encompasses 80 square miles while Fort Smith only encompasses 64 square miles. Jonesboro encompasses a full 25% more land than Fort Smith. Given that, a reasonable person would expect Jonesboro's growth to be larger since they get to count people that have moved into 25% more land than Fort Smith gets to count. Now let's talk about money spent. You rail on and on about sanitation charges being less in Jonesboro and sales tax being less in Jonesboro. One of the things that Jonesboro is heavily criticized for is its substandard streets. Part of Fort Smith's sales tax goes specifically for streets and we have excellent streets as a result. The effects of this is that Jonesboro experiences 16.6 traffic fatalities per year while Fort Smith only experiences 11.7 traffic fatalities per year. Fort Smith's streets are 41.88% safer to ride on than Jonesboro's. Fort Smith's investment in streets saves 5 lives per year. I for one am more concerned about that than I am a measly $13 per month for garbage collection. For every item you point out that Jonesboro does better than Fort Smith, I can point out an item that Fort Smith does better than Jonesboro.

"Statistics" Efficiency Just Don't Add Up In FS

Submitted by Jack Swink on Wed, 06/27/2012 - 8:05am.

Okay, Let's Play!!! Sure I speak of Jonesboro for many reasons. I culd have used Bentonville's growth at 80% or Rogers at 44%, but those are smaller cities in a truly growth area. Jonesboro isn't in a similar growth area like NWA, it is a mature city, very similar to Fort Smith. You mentioned Jonesboro has 80 square miles compared to FS at 64 square miles. Your assessment is poorly thought out. Wouldn't any sensible person know for a city to perform essential services to a geographic area 25% larger, costs to perform those essential services would not be less costs, but increased, due to the 25% larger area. Jonesboro has a good of streets as FS does, so the tax dollars aren't going to streets. You speak of fatalities, let's speak of a more violent statistic, in the latest numbers available, FS had 6 murders in 2010, while Jonesboro had only 2. The crime rate in FS is 497, while Jonesboro has a crime rate of 356 and the national average is 319. My question to you is, do you believe the lesser crime rate in Jonesboro is contributed to their more vibrant economy, or their larger,quality city parks, or their more efficient and accountable city administration, dedicated to serving all the taxpayers of their community? I do beg you to point out the differences. And please start by addressing the sanitation pickup is provided through the 8.5% sales tax and secondly by discussing why FS is approximately $38 higher for water and sewer? Those two costs alone add up to a savings of up to $50 per resident based on Ray Gosacks own quote of 7500 gallons of water usage a month, which if every resident used that amount, could amount to a savings of up to $18,000,000 a year for Jonesboro residents based on 30,000 household customers.
Okay, Let's Play!!! Sure I speak of Jonesboro for many reasons. I culd have used Bentonville's growth at 80% or Rogers at 44%, but those are smaller cities in a truly growth area. Jonesboro isn't in a similar growth area like NWA, it is a mature city, very similar to Fort Smith. You mentioned Jonesboro has 80 square miles compared to FS at 64 square miles. Your assessment is poorly thought out. Wouldn't any sensible person know for a city to perform essential services to a geographic area 25% larger, costs to perform those essential services would not be less costs, but increased, due to the 25% larger area. Jonesboro has a good of streets as ...>> Read the entire comment.

Already Answered That

Submitted by Statistics (not verified) on Wed, 06/27/2012 - 8:42am.

Jack, I answered your question in my previous response. Fort Smith sales tax has a half cent dedicated to streets while Jonesboro has a half cent dedicated to trash service. Our streets are much better and much safer than Jonesboro. That point cannot be argued because there are 41.88% more fatal traffic accidents in Jonesboro than Fort Smith. When you speak of population you only tell half the story. Jonesboro is surrounded by nothing. The people in that area mostly live within the city. Fort Smith is surround by many vibrant communities in which its residents rely on Fort Smith. Think about Barling, Greenwood, Muldrow, Roland, Bonanza, Hackett, etc. Fort Smith's daytime population increases by 28,566 people that commute into our city for a job but that live outside our city. Jonesboro on the other hand only has 10,202 people that commute into their city. If you count all these bedroom communities to Fort Smith in our population figure, our population growth would easily be in double digits. Think about Greenwood that over doubled in size since the last census. You also fail to mention that Fort Smith's government is much more efficient than Jonesboro. Fort Smith spends $25.44 per citizen for government salaries while Jonesboro spends a whopping $30.75 per citizen for government salaries. That is an incredible 20.87% more spent in Jonesboro per person than in Fort Smith. The average government employee in Fort Smith makes $31,346 while the average government employee in Jonesboro makes $37,928. I find it peculiar that you hold Jonesboro in such high regard since you purport to hate inefficient government.

Statistics you are funny

Submitted by randy on Wed, 06/27/2012 - 10:50am.

You stated "You also fail to mention that Fort Smith's government is much more efficient than Jonesboro." Efficient? What about the $253,706.00 Van Buren water true-up that the City of Fort Smith did not bill Van Buren? Then Van Buren refused to pay. The City of Fort Smith lose almost $254,000.00 for not billing in timely matter.If you call that efficient what would you call being inefficient?