other partner, Franco Belini.
Prolano explained, “The trouble is that there are a number of firms with academic credentials, and many of these firms have history that provides evidence of ability. Nothing like experience.”
“It’s like the old chicken and the egg,” Thad said.
“If only it were that simple,” Prolano responded.
“How so?” Thad asked.
Prolano went on, “I was idealistic enough to believe the world awaits any great mind capable of opening new methodology. For example, you would think it would be a rudimentary process for an engineer to design a system known to exist for thousands of years which utilizes naturally occurring agents to deal with the problem of hazardous waste. Mother Nature will clean these agents left to their own devices over a period of time. We know that. So, our methodology is to speed up the process and the cure. We propose to do so by creating a slurry of the waste material within a compound into which we introduce, specifically engineered organisms or bugs. We enrich the process with molasses and voila, the bugs eat the hazardous waste material.
“Oh yeah?” Thad said, “And now the bugs have grown hair between their legs. They’re retained by Japanese movie producers and they march into communities and eat all the pussy!”
“Interestingly, the bugs have more sophisticated taste then some people I know. They only eat the hazardous material, and when this medium has been contained, the bugs go away, incapable of living without the juice,” Prolano said.
“So you’ve invented the miracle bug that won’t come to town and eat our pussy and it costs a fortune to produce and maintain?” Hamilton laughed.
“That is the beauty of the process and the economics, the cost of this technology is less than 1 % of the processes recommended by the government’s Environmental Pollution Agency consultants. And moreover this technology doesn’t impact the environment. We do not burn the waste thereby saving our air quality and we do not bury the waste thereby saving our soil, the ground water or the aquifer,” Prolano said.
“I don’t get it,” Thad said.
“It’s cheaper by far and it does not adversely affect the environment. I’m starting to sound like one of the pitch men on TV,” Hamilton feigned.
“Well, the worst part of wanting to do the best possible job for the least cost has these shadow manipulations operating against the best interest of the public! In short,” Prolano said, “the public is routinely being fucked by the government married to big- name consultants who advise the use of technology which they own or control through the manipulation of public corporations and their devious stock options and ownership. Go figure, we can clean up the mess at $ 70 per metric ton and the government through the Environmental Pollution Authority ( EPA) insist on spending $ 400 per metric ton out of the Superfund while using practices which contaminate the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil our children play on! But what do you expect, everyone is so certain that the government works for the public, as they should, but given enough time every bureaucrat begins to think that the money and the authority is his exclusive pervue. The sickness of a system which doesn’t have the ability to purge itself”. Prolano said.
“And every union contracted to the government is striking for lifetime guarantees…so we can’t fight the mega-conglomerate consultants or the feds. Who else uses the non-pussy eating bugs?” Hamilton said.
“They are utilized on every sewage treatment system built!” Prolano responded.
“And we are qualified to build a sewage treatment plant?” Thad asked.
“Of course, we could build anything that’s ever been imagined, and a few that haven’t,” Prolano responded quite out of character. Hamilton would learn over the years that Prolano wasn’t given to self-aggrandizement… but he was short on patience and could be rather annoyed with his need to move on without regard for explanation of the murky world in which he practiced…it was clear enough to him.
Thad continued to probe the partners… “So let’s see, the fact that the firm is academically qualified is of no consequence, and it appears to me that this firm needs one of what I would call the LAP…it doesn’t stand for “ lacca pussi” either, it is luck, politics and A Big Money Pump…am I close”? Thad asked.
The third partner, Dr. Belini, who was previously just satisfied to listen finally spoke up. “It’s sad but true, that it takes more than academic qualifications to work for either the state, local or federal governments. I guess it was a dream that was unattainable for three guys from Hooterville. But Prolano and I can still teach!”
“Yeah,” Thad said. ”Go teach all these young minds that the government is run by a bunch of fucking crooks!”
“With your permission, I have an idea which may work. Prolano, is it possible to get the list of all communities seeking to build a sewage treatment plant”? Thad inquired.
“Certainly, that’s the easy part. You see most of the communities are unable to build a facility without federal funding or a new local tax to pay for the facility,” Prolano responded.
“You mean they wait until they have all the money before they build,” Thad continued.
“Of course, practically speaking no politician worth his retirement and fat pension plan has guts enough to suggest a local referendum for a tax increase on a public facility which neighboring counties are getting for nearly free! The way it works is that there is a list developed by the feds, a sort of pecking order. A community works its way to the top of the list and with its matching funds in place, usually 20%, the feds approve the project for the environmental impact portion and preliminary design. The community puts the project out for bid or Request for Proposals, which all local firms have been waiting for years to bid on. The county in its infinite wisdom selects the engineer, contracts are drawn, the impact statement is approved by the Department of Natural Resources, the design is approved by local, state and federal authority after public hearings for the input of the public, and the plant is built. The county gets a new Sewage Treatment Facility for a 20% investment which they have saved over maybe 15 or 20 years, and the engineers are paid a fee representing 6-10% of the construction cost”. Prolano said.
“Get the list Prolano, let’s meet again in 10 days. I’ve got a plan that may give this firm more business than it can handle, but I’ll need some professional help with the law and taxes before I am prepared to waste your time”. Hamilton said.
Getting the list together was the easy side of the equation. Prolano would later inform Hamilton it was simply a matter of asking for the list from the Department of Natural Resources. The department which historically is responsible for granting large no bid contracts plays a great deal of politics but uniquely, not at this level. One of the few games in town where the little guy can win when his time comes…the only rub being the ability to come forward with the local match or participation funds. If the community at the head of the list fails to comply by not being able to produce the local funding percentage, the funds from the state and the feds don’t necessarily go to the next community in line, and then the politicos begin to have fun…especially the governors’ office.
After receiving the list from Prolano, Thad developed a business plan, which envisioned the issuance of a tax issue for the sale of revenue bonds for a private entity on a lease/purchase of the plant. To confirm and qualify his plan, he retained a CPA, Charles Lorch, and it was Hamilton’s first opportunity to use Corporate Tax and Securities Attorney, Michael Pearlman. Both Pearlman and Lorch were recognized
