Commissioner questions Flint’s new job

County Commissioner Mark Richard on Tuesday added his voice to those sounding concerns about the career move of Spokane’s former public works director.

The director, Roger Flint, recently was hired by CH2M Hill, an engineering firm that is helping update a solid waste plan for Spokane. County leaders were asked on Tuesday to approve spending about $50,000 extra on the proposal.

“Roger is right in the middle of this contract,” Richard said. “We’ve got a long ways to go before I’m going to be able to sign up on this update.”

The regional solid waste system is run by the city of Spokane and paid for through disposal fees. Almost all garbage within the county goes to the Waste-to-Energy Plant, which is financed by bonds that will be paid off by the city in 2011.

Earlier this month, the Neighborhood Alliance of Spokane County asked the city’s ethics committee to investigate the move of Flint from city employment to becoming a vice president for CH2M Hill, an international engineering firm with more than $4 million in contracts with the city.

Deputy Mayor Jack Lynch said concerns about any conflicts of interest are irrelevant because Flint will not be able to work on any city contract for at least a year.

In September, county commissioners approved spending about $400,000 to create the solid waste plan, which is scheduled to be completed next year and will examine how garbage disposal should be handled within the county for the next two decades. Even though the system is run by the city, the county has a say on financial matters.

The city’s contract for the waste plan is with SCS Engineers. However, C2HM Hill has subcontracts with SCS on the project.

Commissioner Todd Mielke joined Commissioner Phil Harris in voting to approve the extra allocation for the plan. Richard voted against the spending.

Richard said his concerns have arisen because solid waste officials thus far have not been open to exploring broader topics, such as if the plant remains “the most cost-effective, environmentally friendly” option for garbage disposal.

Mielke also voiced concerns with the city’s handling of the waste plan and said officials have been averse to answering questions on finances.

But Suzanne Tresko, Spokane Regional Solid Waste System recycling manager, said the city requested the extra money for the update to answer questions like those from the commissioners.

“We’re working as hard as we can to get as much input” as possible, Tresko said.

Lynch said the city is open to exploring solid waste options as long as the Waste-to-Energy Plant remains in operation through 2011 – when the bonds are paid off. But he questioned if a better disposal option exists.

“I don’t think you can find a system that better serves the ratepayers than this one,” Lynch said.