An influential alderman is arguing that Chicago pays far too much to transport bodies to the morgue, but the attorney for the company that does the work says it must charge that much to make a profit under strict city regulations.
Ald. Ed Burke (14th), chairman of the Finance Committee, plans to conduct hearings on the city contract with GSSP Enterprise Inc., which the city has paid $7.2 million since the start of its current five-year contract in September 2006.
The city currently pays $915 a trip. Under the company’s previous Chicago contract, it was paid $200 a body, or $300 for two bodies, a city Web site shows. In Dayton, Ohio, where the company is based, it only receives $75 a body, Burke said.
So what makes a dead body in Dayton worth $840 less than a body in Chicago? It's not like they're recycling the stiffs for parts or aluminum or anything. They're planting them or burning them, same as anywhere else.
Here's a cost saving idea - wait for it - squadrols!
If the wagon moves one body, the crew gets out of grade for the entire day, which at currently hourly rates is about $6. That's $12 out of grade for the wagon. And get this - if they move two bodies, or three bodies, or a dozen bodies, it's still $12 for the entire day! That's a savings of almost $903 on the current contract! What a deal!!!
And to make it more desirable, we can go back to the old days where enterprising wagon men would sell the bodies to certain connected funeral homes. That was worth $50 or so. And found? Whoa nellie, there would be a stampede for the wagon spots again.
UPDATE: Evidently it's $6 per hour for the out-of-grade, so it's be $96 per hour, still a savings of $821 over the current contract.
We realize this ended up a contract issue - thanks, we were there. But if the Department properly trained and equipped the wagons (we're talking full haz-mat regalia, stretchers, lifts, handtrucks, etc.), there would be no shortage of officers volunteering to do this type of work out of grade.
Here's a cost saving idea - wait for it - squadrols!
If the wagon moves one body, the crew gets out of grade for the entire day, which at currently hourly rates is about $6. That's $12 out of grade for the wagon. And get this - if they move two bodies, or three bodies, or a dozen bodies, it's still $12 for the entire day! That's a savings of almost $903 on the current contract! What a deal!!!
And to make it more desirable, we can go back to the old days where enterprising wagon men would sell the bodies to certain connected funeral homes. That was worth $50 or so. And found? Whoa nellie, there would be a stampede for the wagon spots again.
UPDATE: Evidently it's $6 per hour for the out-of-grade, so it's be $96 per hour, still a savings of $821 over the current contract.
We realize this ended up a contract issue - thanks, we were there. But if the Department properly trained and equipped the wagons (we're talking full haz-mat regalia, stretchers, lifts, handtrucks, etc.), there would be no shortage of officers volunteering to do this type of work out of grade.
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