Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Waste Services Sues County Government And Competitor Over Contract
The company with which the Lawrence County Government has most recently contracted for solid waste services filed suit this week to prevent the county’s governing body from awarding a new contract to another company.
Waste Services of Decatur filed the suit Tuesday, asking that a change in contract be prevented. Waste Services has been responsible for disposing of the county’s solid waste, transporting that waste from the Lawrence County Balefield to a disposal site, at a contracted cost of $38.43 per ton.
As the contract was drawing toward expiration members of the Lawrence County Commission’s Purchasing Committee had accepted bids on the upcoming contract, with a bid opening held in January. The lowest bid was submitted by Waste Connections at a cost of $33.88 per ton.
Purchasing Committee members voted in February to accept the low bid and the contract was approved by the commission as a whole on Tuesday. Awarding of the bid, set for Thursday, was delayed under an order issued by Lawrence County Circuit Court Judge Stella Hargrove. Hargrove ordered that the county operate under the old contract until such time as the legal matter is resolved.
Waste Services officials have agreed to match the newly bid price until the matter is settled.
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