Is it oversight or an oversight? On November 10, 2006 the City Council took up the debate on the garbage collection contract. Although they were not provided copies of the unsigned contract (why?) they were able to question Sanitation Director Veronica White on Friday. After three hours they were spent but not done and decided that they may need to resume later.

In general the council has not been consulted during the proposal phase, in the awards, in managing the outgoing contractor, in dealing with the transition. Now what is their role?

There doesn't appear to be much that can be done other than to sign the costly seven year deals. The outgoing contractor is not willing to extend their deal on a month-by-month basis. January  is only six weeks away. There is still no French Quarter deal.

With the City budget at about $405 million in the general fund, this deal is significant but not overwhelming. Citizens should expect those $12 per month pickup fees to double quietly in the coming years as the effects of deal filter through.

Look for a chronic post K budget crises starting in about 2009 when federal funds are gone, productive citizens have relocated out of the city and the loans being taken now have to be repaid.