At Monday's special meeting, Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority Executive Director Eric Watson made a passing reference to the "tunnel dig" as a possible revenue enhancer. Watson was responding to council questions about the authority's long-awaited expansion to providing solid waste services to other municipalities.
For the past 15 years, PMUA has provided solid waste and sewer services to Plainfield through an interlocal services agreement. Since its early days, there has been mention of increasing the authority's income by contracting with nearby municipalities for various services. Watson said Monday the authority is working with six other municipalities on such arrangements, but could give no details as agreements were in negotiation.
The "tunnel dig" is a whole other story.
This massive project is expected to double rail capacity for NJ Transit and Amtrak lines into New York City and is estimated to cost $8.7 billion. Local entrepreneur Malcolm Dunn was tapped early on as a consultant for the project, and he and son Jeffery have created a web site on the project with the aim of educating prospective contractors to the opportunities of participating in the project.
So what role might a local solid waste and sewer authority play in this venture? Plaintalker understands that there will be a great need for removal and disposal of soil as construction proceeds. Obviously, this would be a new venture for PMUA outside its original mission.
When and if this opportunity comes about, the City Council and all interested citizens should be given an explanation of how it will affect the authority's bottom line and what impact it might have on local ratepayers. The same goes for any new solid waste contracts.
This should be an update question for the next joint meeting of PMUA and the governing body, tentatively scheduled for September.
--Bernice Paglia
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The PMUA working on THE Tunnel come on. First the FEDS are not going to be standing there giving out no bid contracts.
ReplyDeleteSecond THE tunnel work will be hauling dirt no garbage.
Third how can a quote a "public" authority bid on public work.
Fourth if they misbid and lose money the taxpayers of Plainfield
will have to pick up the check.
The PMUA should concentrate on their major core of business, cut the fat and patronage jobs and give the taxpayers of Plainfield what they deserve a fair rate.