On Tuesday, the Jackson City Council refused to pay an $808,035 bill from Richard’s Disposal Inc. for garbage collection services in the city for April.
Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said his administration is committed to making sure garbage is collected in the city.
The action came during a Tuesday special meeting of the council to designate a Juneteenth holiday for the city and pay the overall $4 million claims docket, among other agenda items.
Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks requested the board review the larger claims before approving the overall $4 million claims docket.
After hearing Richard Disposal’s claim for $808,035, Banks made a motion to amend the claims to remove Richard’s claim from the docket, and the motion carried 5-2.
Government expert:Jackson mayor’s veto on garbage contract is ‘new territory’
Previously:Jackson residents speak out, ask questions about garbage at town hall
“There is not a legal and binding contract,” Banks said of Richard’s Disposal Inc., which has been collecting garbage for the city under an emergency contract awarded by Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba.
Lumumba’s emergency contract is the subject of litigation from the city council that has rejected Richard’s as a contractor. Instead, some council members favored awarding a collection contract to Waste Management Inc., which was the city’s previous provider. As a result, Lumumba and the council have been caught up in litigation over this issue for months.
“It is illegal for any city council member to vote for anything that we do not have a legal binding contract to send payment out for,” Banks said. “I know that there are issues before the court, but I’m not about to play around with the statement.”
In further discussion, council members agreed that Richard’s Disposal Inc. had collected the garbage in good faith. Still, the majority agreed the matter should work its way through the court system before the council takes action to pay the claim.
Lumumba was absent from the council meeting. Later, during a press conference in front of City Hall to announce the city’s plans to continue with a Juneteenth celebration ceremony, he said he had been delayed in Atlanta while returning from a trip.
When asked about the council’s refusal to pay Richard’s Disposal Inc.’s bill, Lumumba said he was not “tremendously surprised.”
More:Judge will not take up Jackson mayor’s veto power in garbage contract lawsuit
Related:FAA says garbage trucks at Jackson airfield have to go. What does that mean?
“I’m going to move forward,” Lumumba said. “You know, I’m sorry that will be an issue that will be taken up in court at some point in time. … I’m not spending a great deal of time worrying about that.”
Lumumba said the garbage would continue to be collected.
“I will just say that the administration has remained committed to making sure that our residents’ trash is picked up,” Lumumba said. “And we’re committed to following the state law.”
