The city of Jackson is now moving into the next chapter of the city’s garbage collection saga. The city council signaled Monday that it would like to end litigation with Richard’s Disposal.The council is still guarded about Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba’s pledge to reopen the bidding process to handle Jackson’s garbage collections.The Jackson City Council is holding a meeting Tuesday intending to ask the city attorney to seek an end to its legal fight with Richard’s Disposal. Council President Aaron Banks suggested it is a preemptive strike.”I think it is very important because of all the disagreements that we speak through our minutes and that the city attorney, or nobody, goes in and intentionally throws a case so Richard’s ends up with a six-year contract,” Banks said.”Every defendant in every case wants a dismissal. It is not simply that easy,” Lumumba said.During his weekly briefing, the mayor was guarded about the litigation with Richard’s Disposal, the same company that claims the city has been treated unfairly after bidding the lowest price to pick up trash in the city.”They only scored the highest because they were the cheapest, but is the cheapest always the best?” Banks said.”I think it is critical for the citizens of Jackson and surrounding communities that we handle this professionally and follow state law so we can handle it in the way it is supposed to be done,” said Councilman Ashby Foote.The council said it wants a fresh and fair look at the bids to handle that business, and not what has been forced on the city.”The citizens of Jackson have spoken. They said they want garbage collection twice a week without a car. We issue that RFP, let the best person win,” Banks said.”I am not vested in a back-and-forth anymore,” Lumumba said. “I don’t want to fight. I don’t want this confrontational trash fight that is always in the media.”The mayor said the city will start over again, but will be looking at it costing residents far more because of restarting the garbage bidding process.”We just want the lowest and best every single time,” Lumumba said. “Three times now, the administration has chosen the absolute lowest and best option.”Richard’s Disposal is under an emergency contract that is set to expire in April.
The city of Jackson is now moving into the next chapter of the city’s garbage collection saga. The city council signaled Monday that it would like to end litigation with Richard’s Disposal.
The council is still guarded about Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba’s pledge to reopen the bidding process to handle Jackson’s garbage collections.
The Jackson City Council is holding a meeting Tuesday intending to ask the city attorney to seek an end to its legal fight with Richard’s Disposal. Council President Aaron Banks suggested it is a preemptive strike.
“I think it is very important because of all the disagreements that we speak through our minutes and that the city attorney, or nobody, goes in and intentionally throws a case so Richard’s ends up with a six-year contract,” Banks said.
“Every defendant in every case wants a dismissal. It is not simply that easy,” Lumumba said.
During his weekly briefing, the mayor was guarded about the litigation with Richard’s Disposal, the same company that claims the city has been treated unfairly after bidding the lowest price to pick up trash in the city.
“They only scored the highest because they were the cheapest, but is the cheapest always the best?” Banks said.
“I think it is critical for the citizens of Jackson and surrounding communities that we handle this professionally and follow state law so we can handle it in the way it is supposed to be done,” said Councilman Ashby Foote.
The council said it wants a fresh and fair look at the bids to handle that business, and not what has been forced on the city.
“The citizens of Jackson have spoken. They said they want garbage collection twice a week without a car. We issue that RFP, let the best person win,” Banks said.
“I am not vested in a back-and-forth anymore,” Lumumba said. “I don’t want to fight. I don’t want this confrontational trash fight that is always in the media.”
The mayor said the city will start over again, but will be looking at it costing residents far more because of restarting the garbage bidding process.
“We just want the lowest and best every single time,” Lumumba said. “Three times now, the administration has chosen the absolute lowest and best option.”
Richard’s Disposal is under an emergency contract that is set to expire in April.
