Resident urges council to scrutinize Consilience contract, sidewalk engineering costs and Bi-State transit funding

Tom Sullivan told the St. Louis County Council during the public forum that he is concerned about several items on the county's correspondence list and local transit spending.

"Other correspondence number 9, the County Executive proposing $206,000 to Consilience Group to provide an effectiveness study for the Department of Human Services," Sullivan said, adding that the contract "most likely... will be for more than $600,000 as there will be a 2 year option." He asked whether it should be the director's responsibility to develop internal strategies rather than outsourcing the work and urged the council to be "leery of this proposal."

Sullivan also questioned a contract increase for engineering services on a sidewalk project, saying it raised engineering costs to $232,977 and suggesting the county auditor review the expenditure. He further criticized county spending on transit, referencing what he called a $200,000,000 figure for Bi-State and contending MetroLink has required multiple tax levies while not improving service for many riders. Sullivan recommended hiring a county-level transit auditor or public transit officer to oversee Metro operations.

Discussion/Decision: These remarks were part of the public forum; they did not prompt a formal council vote or immediate direction recorded in the transcript. Sullivan repeatedly urged the council to exercise oversight and to consider using existing staff rather than outsourcing.

Ending: Sullivan concluded by urging the council to hire oversight staff for transit and thanking the council for listening.