As elected officials, the city council is responsible to Mount Carroll taxpayers. I am chairwoman of the solid waste committee (garbage). Bid requests were sent out. Moring Disposal was the low bidder. Dennis Pate said they bid low because they wanted the contract.

The contract was voted on and approved by full council to have the mayor sign the 3-year contract starting Jan. 1, 2013, to Dec. 31, 2016, with the right by mutual agreement to extend the contract or put it out for bid again. After the city's pickup, the city would save $10,442.40 over the 3-year contract.

The ink wasn't yet dry, and the mayor worked out a deal (without notifying the chair of solid waste) with Pate to increase the rate from $92,856 for years one, two and three, to $95,659.20 the fourth year, an increase of $2,803.20, and year five from $92,856 to $98,550, an increase of $5,694. That totals $8,497.20, including city Dumpsters, to the city of Mount Carroll. Who is the city? We, the taxpayers.