Whaley questions progress on county sanitation contract

By BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

The Henry County Board of Supervisors closed out their week with a short meeting on Thursday morning. After appointing Debbie VanDerSnick to the Pioneer Cemetery Commission, the board heard from Lynn Whaley, of Wemiga Waste, regarding a bid on a county contract.

?I sent the Henry County Board of Supervisors a letter stating my desire to bid on the contract, but have not heard back from you at this time. I think the board does have a responsibility to move forward and give me the opportunity to bid on the contract, as that is the fair thing to do,? said Whaley.

The contract in question, which is currently awarded to Mike Prottsman Sanitation, Inc. (MPS), refers to furnishing solid waste and disposal services for rural Henry County residents.

According to the wording of the contract, which was signed on March 22, 2012, ?Henry County grants MPS the exclusive right to collect and dispose of all of Henry County?s solid waste and comingled recyclables for an initial term of three years and eight months from the date of the execution of the agreement. ?

The agreement goes on to state that ?the terms of the agreement shall be automatically renewed for like terms thereafter unless either party shall give written notice of termination by certified mail to the other party at least 60 days prior to the termination of the initial term or any renewal term.?

?We (the Henry County Board of Supervisors) did receive a letter (from Whaley), but we have not taken any action at this point regarding the matter,? said Supervisor Greg Moeller. ?I know we do, according to the statement of the contract, have some time yet to issue a response.?

According to Moeller and fellow Henry County Supervisor Marc Lindeen, the board wishes to consult with their legal counsel before officially responding to the issue at hand.

?When it comes to contracts, we (the board) always make it a point to have a formal conversation with our attorney before we move ahead, and that is what we wish to do at this point,? said Lindeen.

Supervisor Gary See was not in attendance during Thursday?s meeting to give his response to the matter.

The board ended the meeting with an agreement to consult with its legal counsel and add Whaley to the agenda on Tuesday, July 14, with plans to issue a formal response to him at that time.

The next Henry County Board of Supervisors meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 14, at 9 a.m., in the Henry County Courthouse.