November 21, 2011
November 21, 2011: Today, the City of Omaha’s Public Works Department’s Environmental Quality Division announced that there will be no garbage, yard waste, or recyclable material collection on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24, 2011. The collection schedule will change as a result of the holiday according to the schedule below:
Collections will be on the regular schedule the following week, November 28th through December 2nd. However, that will be the final week for yard waste collection in 2011.
In addition, Christmas trees will not be collected curbside this year. Christmas tree recycling locations will be announced through the media at a later date.
Omaha citizens may direct questions to the Environmental Quality Division information line at 444 5238. An answering service, through the same number, can assist during evenings, weekends and holidays. Citizens may sign up for e-mail notification of impending solid waste collection holidays or service delays related to weather by going to join.wasteline.org
November 9, 2011
November 9. 2011 – Today, Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle and Director of Public Works, Bob Stubbe announced that the City of Omaha plans to hire five additional contractors to assist with this winter’s snow operations. The additional contractors will allow City crews to broaden their coverage to include newly annexed portions of the City without compromising efficiency in snow removal. “We have a responsibility to work with our citizens to provide safe streets and sidewalks as quickly and efficiently as possible both during and after a snowfall,” said Mayor Suttle. “However, we understand that we have limited resources available to us and we must maximize every dollar available.”
With the exception of the new contractors, the City’s Snow Plan remains unchanged from last year, when the City implemented its new “even-odd” Snow Emergency policy. “We anticipate the same success this winter as we embark on the second year of our updated snow policy,” said Bob Stubbe, Public Works Director. “Our plan requires residents east of 72nd St. to park on the “even” side of the street during even-numbered days, and the “odd” numbered side during odd-numbered days.”
“Our City’s snow plan can only be effective if we have the participation of our residents, said Mayor Suttle. “It is essential that we work together as a community to keep our streets clear and safe during the winter months.”
For more information on the City of Omaha Snow Operations Plan, please visit: http://www.cityofomaha.org/pw/snow/snow-plan/snow-operations.
November 1, 2011
November 1, 2011 - $5.2 million in lease revenue bonds for technology and forestry equipment were issued today, November 1, 2011, at an interest rate of 3% according to Moody’s Investors Service. More than half a billion dollars in outstanding general obligation debt will remain at the same low interest rate, because of the City’s ability to maintain its AAA bond rating, saving taxpayers millions of dollars annually.
In the latest report from New York, on October 28, 2011 Moody’s cites “the City’s sizable and stable economy that has weathered the national downturn more favorably than its counterparts in other portions of the country,” as the rationale for continuing the AAA rating and low interest rate.
Standard and Poors credits the Suttle Administration’s “conservative budgeting practices” with helping the city “regain structural balance.”
While Standard and Poors allowed Omaha to keep its AAA rating with a stable outlook, Moody’s is in the process of considering whether to remove the negative outlook assigned to Omaha’s AAA credit rating. Removing the “negative outlook” from Omaha’s rating lessens the City’s chances of being downgraded in the months ahead.
“We are pleased that these bond rating agencies appreciate the tough financial decisions we have made in a bad economy,” said Mayor Suttle. “Companies such as Moody’s and Standard and Poors look at several aspects of how a city manages its finances in determining a city’s credit rating and our budget decisions over the last two years reflect solid financial stability.”
Friday’s report specifically warns that failure to continue making progress towards funding long term pension liabilities and an inability to negotiate terms of the fire contract could have a negative impact on Omaha’s rating.
