A state representative has asked Attorney General Bill Schuette to investigate Flint’s city council for not supporting a recommendation to hire a new trash hauler for Flint.
State Rep. Aaron Miller, R-Sherman Township, issued an open letter to the Attorney General’s office earlier this week calling for an investigation and opinion regarding Flint’s trash contract dispute.
“We seem to have seen other examples of municipal financial mismanagement just recently, but this one is particularly disappointing considering all of the state financial assistance that has gone to Flint over almost the past year,” said Miller on a Michigan House of Republicans blog. “The city council is collectively thumbing its nose at saving money and is disregarding the law.
Andrea Bitely, press secretary for Schuette’s office did say Attorney General is reviewing Miller’s letter. “We received a letter regarding Flint garbage pick-up dated August 1 from State Representative Aaron Miller of Sherman Township,” Bitely said. “We are currently reviewing the letter.”
The contract became an issue in June when council members voted against a recommendation to hire Rizzo Environmental Services to haul the city’s garbage.
On July 28, Councilman Scott Kincaid filed suit against Flint Mayor Karen Weaver and her office after Weaver did not acknowledge the council’s decision to move forward with renewing a contract with the city’s current trash collector, Republic Services. The Flint City Council later voted to join Kincaid in his efforts and to hire legal counsel to represent them.
The issue has sparked controversy between the council and Weaver’s office leaving residents without trash service for day. Councilwoman Kate Fields said she was thinking about asking Schuette to look into the issue and the city’s bidding process regarding the trash contract.
“I am pretty sure everyone on the council would welcome an investigation,” Fields said. “I am open to it and I hope it happens. The council has worked within charter and we are not being financially irresponsible.”
The city’s charter says they must accept the “lowest responsible” bid. Council members said they did not support hiring Rizzo even though the company’s bid came in $2 million less than Republic Services after they questioned Rizzo’s integrity and compared packages.
To read the full story, visit http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2016/08/state_rep_calls_on_ag_to_inves.html.