In reference to Community Waste Solutions making a proposal to the Haines Borough for “consolidated service with mandatory pickup” (CVN, Sept. 12), I recall sitting in a meeting 14 or 15 years ago where Linda Walker (then owner of Haines Sanitation) declared that she found it necessary to increase the garbage rate to 50 cents per pound. Paul Nelson, also in attendance at that meeting, did some quick calculations. Paul then said he could pick up trash for 10 cents a pound. That was the beginning of Acme Transfer.

I hope this illustrates the need to avoid, at any cost, “consolidated service” and “mandatory pickup.” The borough assembly needs to start looking for ways to cut spending and/or possibly privatize some or all of the “services” in the borough. It seems like the cost of living will become untenable for residents that are unemployed or under -employed in the not-too-distant future. The increase in real estate assessments comes to mind.

Randy Katzenmeyer