Another edition of Ask the Blog, for a reader who requested more information about Central Arkansas Water’s contract with a new ad/PR adviser, Advantage Communications, and, for policy work, with Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods.
Advantage will receive a $4,000 monthly retainer, in addition to charges for specific projects. This compares with $5,000 a month plus charges for the previous ad/PR rep, Heathcott Associates. Here’s the contract.
Heathcott was paid, in sum, $263,372 in 2003; $194,839 in 2004; $203,506 in 2005; $153,626 in 2006; $147,848 in 2007, and $103,418 in 2008.
Marie Crawford of CAW said Cranford will be paid by the hour on a per-project basis for support in “public policy analysis and development and public policymaker and stakeholder outreach (consumer, customer, ratepayer, watershed landowners, public officials, community groups, etc.)”
UPDATE: Check the jump for a statement from Crawford answering questions posed by readers.