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Minutes of a Meeting of the North Olmsted Parks and Recreation Commission October 6, 2008 REPORT OF THE COMMUNITY LIFE SERVICES DIRECTOR Cleaning Company for Recreation Department As you know, began Mr. Dailey, the City went out to bid in April of this year because our prior contractor defaulted; they did not want to continue on and exercised their right to get out of it. When the City went out to bid, the City accepted the lowest and best bid of Kinas Cleaning Services. Unfortunately, the City of North Olmsted is finding that it’s not working out, and Mr. Dailey expected that the contract would be terminated within the next week or so. We are currently spending about $40,000 a year. What we will probably be doing is taking it back in-house for the interim and, perhaps, bringing in some additional part-time help. That’s a big stretch, however. Fortunately, going into the winter season, most of the work gets done inside or plowing outside (parking lots, walkways, etc.) Kinas has not done the job. This is probably the third cleaning company we’ve had since the Director has been with the City of North Olmsted, which is just over two years. It’s his impression that outside cleaning services just do not work in this type of venue. We had three of the bids relatively close; we just have not hooked up with a winning one yet. There is one change that could be affecting our budget for next year, too, so we’re looking to bring it back in-house and bring additional help on board or just get absorbed into the day-to-day activities of the Rec maintenance staff. So, we’ll see how that works. Mr. Scarl asked if the maintenance men cleaned, especially the bathrooms at the Park, before cleaning help would be hired. Mr. DiSalvo said that the maintenance men clean the Parks. Mr. Scarl asked if it was the Park restrooms…Mr. DiSalvo said it was. Mr. Dailey said this was the first year the Rec went to outside cleaning, since we’ve had it done in-house prior to this. Mr. DiSalvo said Janco submitted outside cleaning with its bid. Mr. Scarl said that, whoever’s been doing it lately, and this is kindness, it’s pathetic. Those new bathrooms are a disgrace. Mr. DiSalvo said that the bottom line is that they are not being cleaned. Mr. Dailey said that Kinas was put on notice about two weeks ago that if they didn’t work out, we were going to exercise our right to get out of the contract – now, probably at the end of this week. It’s unfortunate; it’s expected to work out; it just never does. Mr. Baxter asked what a company like that would charge, roughly. Mr. Dailey said it was about $40,000 a year. Mr. Baxter said that there is the same problem where he works; people just don’t follow through. Mr. Dailey said it’s a transient business, as best he can tell. It’s a tough industry. Their references check out well; there might be more immediate clean-ups than long-term servicing. With government, lowest and best is the key; sometimes it doesn’t work out. Utility Rates Mr. Dailey said that the Rec Department’s utility rates are sky high – we’re getting blown out of the water. The Rec will be short about $40-$50,000 projected, going into the end of the year. Gas immediately started off high this year. The Rec was at almost $16,000 for the first month; prior year we were at $6,700. After that, we just were never able to catch up. The month of February ended up being down by $9,000; by the end of March, we were down by over $15,000; end of April, almost $20,000; and it holds true for May. Sorry to say, utility rates are just creeping up out there – the Page 3