Still stocking bottled water after the city’s lead contamination crisis, Flint residents are now being forced to store something else in their homes: their trash.
The city announced on Saturday that it will suspend trash pick-up indefinitely beginning Monday while a judge works out a weeks-old disagreement between city officials. The disruption in services is the result of a battle between the mayor and the City Council over which company to grant the city’s trash contract to after the most recent one expired Friday.
In June, Flint Mayor Karen Weaver recommended the city award the contract to Rizzo Environmental Services instead of continuing to work with the more expensive Republic Services. Weeks later, the council voted 8-1 against her recommendation and instead decided to renew the city’s contract with Republic.
In response, Weaver vetoed the council’s decision. “My responsibility is to put forth the lowest possible responsible bid,” she told an online talk show.
Then the council overrode her veto. Stuck in limbo over whose decision is final, it council took the issue to court.
At the case’s first hearing, hours before the contract was set to expire Friday, the judge chastised the council and the mayor’s office for allowing politics to interfere with services for the city’s 100,000 residents.