One of Ohio's issues is that it is a state losing 30-40,000 people a year. A recent report just came out that listed Toledo as being hard hit by this state-wide phenomena. Toledo suffered a 1.1% dip in population last year, ranking it as the most left city in Ohio, and the 13th in shrinking cities across the US.The effect in Toledo is to perpetrate a continuing feeling that the city is in a tailspin. The article mentions an 18% drop in population over the last several decades.
What's even sadder is how many other Ohio cities made it onto this list. Cincinnati is 2nd, Cleveland 8th, Toledo 13th, Dayton 23rd, and Akron 50th. All major metropolitan areas of Ohio suffered the loss of population. Many of those people leaving, particularly in metropolitan areas, are our educated and young.
[population density map via wikipedia]
1. I think I might know why people are moving out of Ohio cities.....check this out.
Low bidder battles loss of sewer deal
Contractor calls errors inconsequential
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Bob Moser
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
A contractor has asked a judge to stop Columbus from awarding two sewer contracts, saying that the city should have been more concerned with saving nearly $340,000 on the projects than with a paperwork error.
Insituform Technologies came in well under 28 other contractors when it bid for sewer repair projects in the Clintonville area this spring. Insituform’s two project bids combined were $337,610.40 lower than those of the second bidder, Reynolds Inliner.
But Public Utilities officials threw out Insituform’s bids on May 12 because it used a percentage, not a dollar figure, to report the size of its security deposits for each project.
An initial hearing on the company’s lawsuit is scheduled Friday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
The application forms tell companies six times to use a dollar figure for the deposit, sometimes in boldface letters, said Rick Tilton, spokesman for the Utilities Department.
"We’re all for saving ratepayers money any opportunity we can, but we need companies to fill out our forms correctly," he said.
Sewer and water projects are financed through water and sewer fees paid by Columbus’ utilities customers.
The oversight was caught in a week, and Insituform had its bonding company send letters to the city with dollar totals for each bid bond, said Insituform’s attorney Tod O’Donoghue.
"It’s frustrating. They know us," he said, referring to work Insituform has done.
The error was small, correctable, and holding it against Insituform only hurts ratepaying residents in Columbus, O’Donoghue added.
"It was a very technical and meaningless mistake. Their documents also say technicalities could be waived by the city," he said.
Reynolds, which is in line to get the contract, also made a mistake in its application, said Tonya Arsh, administrator for the city’s Sewers and Drains Division. The company incorrectly calculated how much to set aside for unforeseen costs, she said.
This type of mistake is one of many that are forgivable, Arsh said.
"Competitive bidding saves money, but it also makes a level playing field," Assistant City Attorney Susan Ashbrook said. "And unfortunately, sometimes that means a low bid is done wrong and thrown out. Our documents explain how we’re going to treat mistakes. This is a very well-established rule."
The City Council will make the final decision.
City starting reorganization of utility workers
Some say reshuffle aimed at efficiency wastes money while rates continue to rise
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Jodi Andes
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
This summer starts a shuffle of Columbus utilities employees aimed at making the division more efficient.
But some question why city officials are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars when utility rates, which cover the costs, are in the midst of a several-year’s climb, with another increase expected to be approved this fall.
Ninety-eight Division of Operational Support employees are being moved from various utilities buildings to 3568 Indianola Ave., a building the city bought in 1998 that now houses only a few Electricity Division employees, said Rick Tilton, assistant director of the Utilities Division.
An additional 95 employees are to be moved to another city building at 3500 Indianola Ave. The move was delayed last month after asbestos and mold were discovered. The cost of the cleanup is not yet known, Tilton said.
But the moves have cost $261,643 so far, Tilton said, for such things as movers and changes to reconfigure the offices. Of that, $135,000 is expected to be spent on furniture, according to city estimates.
Buying new furniture doesn’t seem like a wise use of money, said Peggy McElroy, who was president of the Northwest Civic Association for 18 years and ran unsuccessfully for the City Council.
"They always put out there how we have to tighten our belt. But it seems they spend more and more, telling us we’ll reap the benefits," she said. "Well, I haven’t seen that take place yet."
Employees with similar jobs from various divisions, such as electricity, water and sewers, are being grouped together, Tilton said.
For example, 100 people are being moved around in Utilities’ 910 Dublin Rd. building. Thirtyeight employees, previously at three different buildings, are being moved into 1250 Fairwood Ave.
The moves will, for example, house meter readers and human-resources people together, Tilton said.
"It’s really about being efficient. ... They will be working closely, so they don’t have to go to a different floor or different building."
The spending comes as the average Columbus resident pays $55 more this year for sewer and water.
Last year, the city spent $334,271 to hire eS Architecture and Development to study space needs.
That study, which includes the main city government buildings where police, development and the mayor’s office are housed, is expected to be complete this month, said Columbus Finance Director Joel Taylor.
Ultimately, the goal is to save money by increasing efficiency, Taylor said.
The study also is looking at the old police headquarters at 120 W. Gay St. and the Municipal Court building at 375 S. High St. The analysis should show where government can work more efficiently and if any buildings should be sold, Taylor said.
Doug Preisse, chairman of the Franklin County Republican Party, provided another perspective on the all-Democratic council.
Given the city’s financial climate, he said, "voters ought to be watching carefully."
jandes@sdispatch.com
Posted at 2:04PM on Jul 12th 2006 by Jim