Garbage contract dumped
posted Wednesday, February 13th, 2013 @ 3:16 pm

The Town of Ferriday was without trash pick-up service for 11 days after Waste Management suspended its services over a payment dispute.

Mayor Gene Allen said the town owed Waste Management $200,616.51 when he took office on July 1, 2012.

Recently, Waste Management requested payments of $60,000 a month for both past and current bills.

"My administration has continued to meet the monthly obligations according to the contract, however, with the financial conditions of the town we were not able to meet the payment arrangement requested by Waste Management," he said.

The town voted in an emergency meeting Friday morning to send out requests for bids. Delta Disposal of Monroe and Waste Pro of Mississippi were the only two bidders.

Delta Disposal's bid $9.45 per month per customer was accepted and the company began services on Tuesday.

The bid from Delta Disposal includes weekly collection, disposal and transportation for approximately 1,240 residents and 110 small businesses in the city limits.

Town Attorney Myisha Davis said Waste Management can sue the town over breach of contract.

Allen said the garbage was being picked up through the weekend by Waste Management while the company was also picking trash containers, which they own.

"We're just asking people to put their trash into a trash bag and it will be picked up by Tuesday," Allen said.

He said he knew that animals, particularly dogs, may pose problems with trash bags, but the town would have to work through it.

"I apologize for the current situation and our office understands the frustration levels," he said.