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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
City hires PR firm to push utility
WINNIPEG has hired a public relations firm to sell voters on the concept of a new water-and-sewer utility, even though the city has yet to decide whether to go ahead with the proposed utility.Biggar Ideas landed a $250,000 contract to "engage the public, provide information and conduct consultations" about Winnipeg's proposed utility.
In November, city council approved a plan to "explore the idea" of creating a new utility to complete Winnipeg's $1.8 billion wastewater upgrade and possibly extend city water and wastewater-treatment services to neighbouring municipalities.
The plan includes a proposal to partner up with private consulting or engineering firms on future upgrades at the North End and South End water pollution control centres. Conventionally procured work nearing completion at the West End plant suffered from cost overruns and design errors, according to city reports.
Glen Laubenstein, Winnipeg's chief administrative officer, said the city is still deciding whether to pursue the utility plan, which will not proceed without a private partner.
"We don't know at this point which model of strategic partner might work best, nor do we yet have a detailed business analysis of a potential improved utility management model to judge," Laubenstein said Monday in a statement.
But the hiring of Biggar Ideas SEnD along with a new city webpage that says "everyone wins" with a new utility SEnD has led Fort Rouge Coun. Jenny Gerbasi, who voted against the utility plan, to question whether the public consultation is just a public relations maneuver.
"I don't think we should be out marketing something, out selling an idea, when our budget is $15 million short," said Gerbasi.
bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 24, 2009 B2
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