City examines sweeping changes

Street cleaning program could use some tweaks, aldermen suggest

By Ed Nadolski

Editor in Chief

Depending upon whom you ask, the City of Burlington’s street sweeping program has been a cost-saving success or still-emerging process in need of adjustment.

That was a gist of a discussion Tuesday by the City Council while it met as a Committee of the Whole.

Now aldermen have two weeks to decide whether their concerns about the arrangement can be answered sufficiently to warrant extending a two-year contract to the Wanasek Corp. to continue the program. The council is scheduled to formally consider the contract at its Aug. 21 meeting.

For most of those who spoke regarding the program, the issue was not about the quality of service delivered by Wanasek, but rather the direction the contractor receives from the city and Streets Superintendent Dan Jensen.

Ald. Tom Vos said he was concerned that streets in newer subdivisions where there are few trees are getting the same amount of attention as the older residential areas, which require more cleaning.

“I have a problem with taking the time to sweep streets that don’t need it when others do,” he said, suggesting that city staff monitor the situation and direct the contractor to the appropriate areas.

Jensen explained that the city pays a lump sum for sweeping all streets on a monthly basis rather than an hourly fee for specific areas.

Alderwoman Katie Simenson said the subdivision she lives in – Shiloh Hills – rarely needs sweeping. However she questioned due to the concerns raised by Vos whether the city was spending enough to sufficiently clean streets and keep storm sewer catch basins from clogging.

Vos said his goal is to put the money where it’s most needed so the city gets the best “bang for its buck.”

The contract proposal from Wanasek calls for weekly sweeping of the downtown area as well as the major thoroughfares leading into the city for $800 per week and all other areas of the city on a monthly basis for $3,250 per month.

Jensen said the city spent $25,500 for the service last year, which is significantly less than it would have cost the city to do the work itself.

In his cost analysis of the program, Jensen estimated the city saved more than $13,000 last year by using a private contractor. The biggest hurdle to the city handling the task, he said, is the cost to replace the city’s current street sweeper. That replacement cost, amortized over 10 years, was figured into his estimate for the work.

In the end, Alderman Tom Preusker wondered which process is best.

“I’m trying to figure out if we get a good deal or not,” he said. “(It looks like) we just need more accountability.”

Jensen agreed that city staff will have to take a look at the process and make sure the work is getting done in the appropriate areas at the appropriate times.

“It’s still a work in progress,” he told the council. “I appreciate your input.”