Earth First LLC – does Fort Wayne need another landfill?
Posted by AWB in City & County Government
Earth First, LLC, the company owned in part by the mayor’s brother Jerry Henry, is first in line for the city garbage contract. Jerry Henry is an upstanding person who has contributed to Fort Wayne in more ways than I can describe here. However..
There are barbs flying across the city, both for and against Earth First, LLC. Over at Fort Wayne Politics they state, “A small innovative startup company comes up with a creative solution in order to undercut the large and entrenched corporation.”
Has someone been watching Michael Moore movies?
I don’t know how someone could even begin to claim “A innovative startup company comes up with a creative solution.” The public has not seen what Earth First, LLC. has proposed, and most likely never will, given the lack of transparency Tom Henry and his staff have displayed in the past. This is a $9 million a year contract, and typically cities issue a call for competitive bids for contracts of this scope. This contract was not placed for bid. Instead, there was a call for “request-for-proposals,” or RFP’s. This allowed the city to pick whomever they deem best suited for the job.
Poor planning?
Earth First originally stated they would haul the garbage 68 miles south of Fort Wayne to the Jay County Landfill, operated by Waste Management. In a story Tuesday night by INC, they now say “they’re banking on regulatory approval to open a new landfill in the area“.
Banking on? Maybe the folks in Ossian and Bluffton found out that 20-25 tractor trailer rigs of garbage a day (about 100,000 tons per year) were going to be coming through their towns and started raising hell? Maybe someone at Earth First actually got out a calculator, and determined that spending over $300,000 in a year in fuel costs hauling it to Jay County didn’t make sense. Maybe someone complained about the giant carbon footprint several million miles of trash hauling would create?
Do the math. One driver could only make three trips a day. That would take 6-7 trucks dedicated to hauling the trash. You then have wages, equipment cost, insurance, fuel and let’s not forget the fees charged by Waste Management for dumping our trash in Jay County. I’m just estimating, but it’s likely close to $1 million a year. Hey, for that, they can open their own landfill.
Do we really need/want another landfill in Allen County? I doubt the environmentalists will stand idly by. Who’s backyard is it going to be in? Do they already have an option on some farmland to build a landfill? A landfill can take several years just to plan, and construction cost can top $30 million dollars. Someone’s got some deep pockets. Then again, once they have the contract they could come to the city seeking a bond for financing a new landfill. Heck, it will create jobs, right?
How about the environmental impact?
Before any landfill can be built, an environmental impact assessment, (EIA) has to be completed. Where in Allen County is there a location that is not close to rivers, streams or wetlands? Do we really want another site that has to be monitored for leachate, (contaminated water)?
National Serv-All (NSA) operates the only landfill in Allen County, and they have proven to be responsive and innovative. In 2002, an eight mile underground pipeline from the NSA landfill to the General Motors assembly plant was installed. Methane from the landfill is piped to GM for use as fuel for one of its boilers. General Motors saved $2.5 Million in fuel costs in 2006 by using this renewable energy source.
Jerry Henry has proven over the years he’s more than qualified to be involved with the ownership and management of any company. His partner and president of Earth First Gregg Walbridge however, has proven in the past he doesn’t care about the rights of his neighbors.
From a prior post:
Gregg Walbridge’s name may ring a bell if you live at Lake James. Walbridge’s company, Southwest Development Group won approval to develop “The Coves of Lake James,” a 55-unit condominium project located in Gray’s Landing a few years back. The project was approved without lake access. According to members of the Lake James Association, Walbridge bought lakefront property in his secretary’s name (Ranell Bradfield) so as not to appear connected with the condo development on C.R. 300W. This was according to the members, an attempt by Walbridge to bypass existing regulations so he could build a “mini-marina” to support the 55 condo owners with lake access.
Walbridge used deceit to acquire the property to build his marina-style development.
Our own caring little community is being invaded by Greg Walbridge of Southwest Development. He has big plans for a condominium development that could house 55 condo owners. Walbridge is attempting to funnel his way down our one lane private drive and squeeze lake access through a single family lakeside residential lot. From that lot he plans to grant lake access by creating a mini marina, providing 38-plus boat slips to his owners.
All of his progress to date been questionable. He purchased this single family residential lot under his secretary’s name. He has built fences without obtaining building permits. He also began construction of accelerate/ de-accelerate lane and culvert placement before necessary permits had been obtained.
Greg Hathaway
Lake James
Is Walbridge someone you’d want in charge of the stewardship of a new landfill?
The bottom line is simple. We have a vendor that has performed well under the existing contract. They employ over 230 people in Fort Wayne and the surrounding counties, and have an effective system of trash removal in place, and are not starting from scratch.
While I’m unaware of the names of the other companies that submitted to the RFP request, picking one that has nothing in the way of infrastructure, trucks, employees or a landfill is simply bad business.
This isn’t about nepotism, it’s about doing what’s right for the community.
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Once again this is the network of the well connected trying to line the pockets of their cronies. Since they have proven they are short sighted and now want a landfill what’s that tell us? And just where in the county would they put one? NIMBY
This was a very well written, informative and fair article. I had no idea about the Methane pipeline to GM. That is a win on a bunch of different fronts.
Thanks Dan!
First, the Michael Moore jab was silly.
This reads as if Earth First wasn’t the lowest bidder – they were. Your position seems to be that we should allow National Serv-All to continue their contract simply because they’ve did a good job in the past. Whose to say Earth First won’t do an admirable job at a lower cost to consumers?
And awarding a contract because there’s some possibility that there would be another landfill is not a sound procurement strategy. If the city doesn’t want another landfill then make that part of the contract – if Earth First decides they can’t meet that obligation then re-bid the contract.
I find your position incoherent with your previous statements that the lowest bidder should always be selected – e.g. your stand against giving local businesses a preference. Here the lowest bidder happens to be a startup company – so what? Every company starts out that way and if they figure out a way provide the same quality service as National Serv-All at better prices then I’m all for it.
I never said, nor did I imply that the lowest bidder should always be selected and the article also doesn’t imply that Earth First was, or was not the lowest bidder. That was and is not the point I’m making.
I also have not taken a “stand against giving local businesses a preference.” I pointed out the difference between a bid and an RFP.
As you well know, even with the bidding process the city doesn’t have to accept the low bid if the bidder is not qualified. In this case, it’s my opinion that Earth First is ill-prepared to do the job.
I also never took a position that National Serv-all should be allowed to keep the contract.
Not knowing who else bid, or their capabilities makes it hard to compare any but EF to NSA.
This is all about common sense. With Earth First flip-flopping on the landfill issue you have to wonder just how well they’ve planned this out. That, combined with Walbridge’s history of ignoring the rights of other property owners is enough for a no vote in my book.
If they want to be in the garbage business, start one and come back when you have a demonstrable track record.
As for the Michael Moore jab, the word “entrenched” as it relates to corporations is among his favorite lines.
Maybe that was just subliminal on your part.
Funny that Karen Goldner has similar feelings to Dan’s given she tried to get the IT contract awarded to another “vapor-ware” start-up type of company back in 2008 where she stated…
This contract should be about supporting our businesses in their growth. Local control and local responsibility is better because not only do we get the on-site technician jobs, but we also get the higher-end management jobs, the sales and support positions and a more permanent commitment to our community..
And only yesterday had this to say about Earth First.
It looks like Karen’s seen the light.
And one other item for Jeff Pruitt. I didn’t see any mention of Earth First promising to hire displaced National ServAll employees. If I recall that was an issue with the IT contract.
The argument about whether or not to hire a start-up company, of whom we would be their first “customer”, is interesting.
While I am cognizant of the need for everyone to start somewhere, a couple of things bother me about this. The export of our waste to another community is one. If Jay County wants it and is lobbying for it, then that is one thing. However, does it help our image if we can’t manage our own? I would also question if that is the most efficient, environmentally friendly way to do it? Even if it is the most economical way, it’s troubling to consider the damage to our environment and waste of fuel and man hours that would be put into hauling it away.
I think we should encourage start-up companies as much as we are able. However, in this case, it’s a huge risk to the City to entrust something as critical as garbage to an unproven company. If it were to go horribly wrong, we wouldn’t see the current Administration have even a snowball’s chance of re-election because you don’t mess with the basic services citizens expect from government – garbage, snow removal, public safety, etc.
This thing about the “need for a landfill” bothers me as well. What’s changed that suddenly they needed to evaluate their whole underlying model? And will they be able to make that work?
I don’t care how you spin it, but the way this entire affair has developed doesn’t entirely feel up to snuff and doesn’t comfort one when thinking about a multi-million dollar contract with direct implications for citizens.
Dan:
Well spoken article and comments…
Kudos to you (and common sense)!!!
Hey Dan it is your favorite Chimp. Did you listen to the Pat White show today? The President of EarthFirst was on and he answered all of the questions that have been raised by you and other individuals. It seems that the “Blue Ribbon Panel” that T. Warner refers to is more interested in a paycheck instead of local business. After doing a little more research I found out that the successful bidder has to have a performance bond in place to protect the City and citizens incase they cannot perform. Also, since EarthFirst would be located in the City limits wouldn’t they be paying City taxes Versus National Serv-All located outside the City and not paying City taxes.
Carbon footprint? Enviromental impact? So AWB has gone over to the dark side to join algore! Too bad.
It’s quite funny that Greg Walbridge keeps being painted as a cheat and a fraud (paraphrasing) because of that stupid NIMBY Lake James development issue. Lake James people are always trying to protect their little slice of paradise, and screw anyone who tries to develop the area or make it more accessible to the rest of humanity. “If you can’t afford the $500k to live on James, well then you can use the public access with the great unwashed.” God damn someone should try to be inventive and capitalistic and make the lake more widely available.
Greg’s father started Serv-All and he was president in 1997 when the company merged with Republic services. I would venture to guess that he knows more about trash collection, landfill issues, and serving the city contact in a responsible and effective manner than ever single poster on this board, the city council, and the county council combined, including Dan.
Everyone seems to want to tear down this whole thing because Jerry Henry had 5% ownership in the company. First, you’d be hard pressed to find a medium size company in the entire city that JH hasn’t lent money to, rented space to, sold property to, or has an ownership stake in. He is that prolific, and to make this some kind of corruption clarion call is a fool’s errand. Secondly, I used the word HAD because he has now given back the 5% and Earth first will now pay rent to Henry the old fashioned way.
So what we are left with is a national company doing business the old fashioned way, and a local upstart with a qualified and experienced staff trying to challenge them. But for some reason, the conservatives that I would expect to give the capitalist entrepreneurs a shot at success, want nothing to do with it and are running around like the damn world is on fire.
I am by no means a Walbridge cheer leader ( I know him personally, and we rarely see eye to eye) and I don’t have any issues with the service I receive from Serv-All. But it seems that the ignorance and half-cocked rumor mongering and speculation leaping on this board is getting way out of hand on this entire situation and its kind of sad and pathetic.
P.S. Gregg Walbridge was the one that implemented the methane pipeline to GM while he was a consultant for Serv-All, after the company was bought. He must have some experience then if he came up with that innovative idea….
Jack:
While Walbridge was involved, it wasn’t his idea. It was proposed and implemented by Toro Energy who has worked with General Motors on similar projects though out the county.
No matter the difference. Serv-All associated with Walbridge helped carry out the plan for the pipeline. National Serv-All’s most innovative plan carried out by Gregg Walbridge, the very person who you are targeting. Makes no sense to me. Sounds like EarthFirst will have plenty of great experience.
The “better” Serv-All was run by the Walbridge Family, not Republic
So, which side of the fence is the city council on???? They’re like a kangaroo court!
http://www.wane.com/dpp/video/news/local_wane_ftwayne_IN_businesses_get_edge_on_contracts_200907072129
I thought most people realized it is good to buy locally whenever possible?
When I listened to the President of Earth First on Pat White yesterday, I thought his answers were pretty self-serving.
I really can’t understand why the city would be trying to fix something that isn’t broke with a company that has no history of performing the service. Let Earth first sell their services to a smaller venue and show me that you can do what you are trying to sell.
National Serv-All is a corporate smuckville. Their recycling service that they offer and that you have to pay for is terrible. Over 80% of the time I set out my recycle containers, Serv-All would not pick them up. Even after phone calls they said they'd be out within a couple of days and it would sit there for another week. This wasn't a one time occurrence either. I'm all for Earth First's lower prices, no pre-sorting and not being charged add'l fees that National Serv-All should have done away with years ago.
After the bad recycling service that Serv-All provided, I've been driving my recycling down to the appropriate recycling place to dispose of.
Hi Chad, I am considering changing my residential service from Serv-All to Earth First for some of the same reasons as you have mentioned. Failure on several weeks to have my trash removed on the day it is schedules or completely missing us and saying they would send someone within a couple days, That didnt happen and sometimes it was a 3 week wait before they got it right. So if you have switched and are getting good service from Earth First, please pass on any news to me and other readers who are contemplating making the change.
It's funny that you love National Serv-all so much and your taking jabs at Walbridge. Him and his family were the ones that made National Serv-all what it was a couple years ago. Now they've been boosting prices. Gregg was the president of National Serv-all for 10+ years he has more than enough experience. If he wanted to make another landfill he could, because he already has…..