05082018 - City and UTA Settlement Agreement (May 2018) IOv FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DENTON Jessica Rogers • (940) 349-7531 • Jessica.Rogers@cityofdenton.com
City Agrees to Settlement Terms with University of Texas Arlington
DENTON, TX, May 8, 2018—The City of Denton and the University of Texas Arlington
(UTA)have agreed to terms of a settlement regarding solid waste research and related activities
at Denton's ECO-W.E.R.C.S. resource recovery facility and the City's participation in the UTA
Solid Waste Institute of Sustainability(SWIS).
The settlement is the result of findings from an internal audit of the City's Solid Waste and
Recycling Department and a concentrated effort by City staff over the last year to review the
business practices,programs, and budgeting methodology in the Department. As part of the
review of City agreements with UTA, the City found that payments had been remitted to UTA
for a landfill mining program,which had yet to be implemented and therefore the City should not
have authorized expenditure of those funds. Additionally, it was found that the City had made
payments to UTA for membership in SWIS, but those payments were not properly approved per
City policy.
The City and UTA worked together to thoroughly review all research agreements between the
two parties. As part of this effort, UTA helped the City identify additional transactions and
payments for which expenses had not been incurred. The two parties have come to a mutual
resolution which includes the return of all unexpended funds to the City. The cooperation
between UTA and the City led to an efficient resolution for both parties.
Terms of the settlement include:
• UTA will return $600,000 with the potential to return an additional $26,000 following
closeout of the final agreement.
• The City and UTA release one another from any disputes, claims, or demands related
strictly to applicable agreements, projects, and SWIS membership.
• Any unclaimed property will revert to the City after 45 days from the date of the
settlement.
The Denton City Council approved the terms of the settlement by ordinance at a City Council
meeting on May 8 by a unanimous vote (7-0).
Contact: Ethan Cox, (940) 349-7421, Ethan.Cox@cityofdenton.com
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