Lumumba addresses rumors on the selection of Richard's Disposal. See what he said

One day to go until the Jackson City Council is set to vote on a long-term garbage contract.

On Tuesday, March 19, the council will hold their second monthly meeting of March. On the agenda, the council will decide the fate of a long-term contract between the City of Jackson and Richard's Disposal Inc.

During his Monday press conference, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba continued to defend how his administration has handled the garbage collection request for proposals, while also addressing different rumors that have been circulating about the selection of Richard's Disposal. He also spoke on certain details within the contract.

"I remain committed today that we aren't going to fight. We're not going have arguments that don't benefit our residents, we're simply going to put forth the facts," Lumumba said.

One of the issues the mayor addressed was the issue of trash carts being provided in the contract. Richard's will supply roughly 45,000 carts for residents, but the decision to use those carts is optional. The mayor said the decision to add them in the contract was an effort to try to reduce the city's litter problem. They will also help the city to look "beautiful" come trash day, as well as being "ergonomically sound" and protect trash hoppers from coming into contact with bacteria.

Lumumba said there were rumors that Richard's Disposal is trying to use the carts to replace the garbage workers work on the back of the trucks picking by only relying on the automatic arm that is used to pick up the carts. Lumumba denied that was the case. The contract states every garbage truck must have two workers on the back.

A few other issues within the contract the mayor addressed are below.

Mayor threatens to sue

Lumumba addressed rumors that he said have been circulating, including that "the mayor has been getting millions under the table by forcing the city to get carts."

"Anyone who participates in this slanderous type of discussion, either publicly or in a private way that can be proven, I'm guaranteeing, in fact, I'm assuring you that I will sue and make sure that I hold you accountable," Lumumba said. "For those that have means, I'll sue you for what you got and for those who don't have means I'll sue you for what you don't have."

He stated he has never, "nor is it in my principle," to take any money for any city contract.

"I would never do that. And just as I would never do this, I have never done it on this contract or any other contract," Lumumba said.

Why Richard's was chosen over the second and only other bidder

Firstly, the mayor addressed National Collection Systems LLC, the second and only other vendor to bid on the RFP. Lumumba refused to provide how much the company bid on the contract, but stated there were two sections of the city's RFP that the company could not adequately respond to.

"When asked in the RFP process if they could demonstrate their ability to purchase trucks, they responded that they weren't able to do that," Lumumba said, adding they also did not have an insurance bond to repair trucks in case there was some sort of accident.

"When asked if they had been in residential pick-up for five years, they were unable to show that," Lumumba also added. "Without verification of the price of trucks and without the ability to get a bond, then it's somewhat arbitrary the number (the company's bid) because your price is in large part is directed by the cost that it takes to you get the trucks and everything to set up the business. So if you've been unable to get the trucks, if you've been unable to get a bond, then you're unable to really tell us what your price is."

The mayor also said the city's legal department advised that National Collections Systems LLC shouldn't even be graded because they weren't able to meet the minimum requirements in the RFP.

He also emphasized that he does not pick the garbage collection company that goes to the council for a vote. That is decided by a panel of six within the city's solid waste division. The panel reviews all vendors that respond to the RFP, then makes a recommendation. Lumumba then puts that recommendation on the council's agenda for a vote.

Mayor fires back at Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes comments

Lumumba stated that Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes recently made a comment that "the City of Jackson is trashy and Richard's isn't doing a good job."

"It is not Richard's who trashes the City of Jackson. It's residents and people from out of town who choose our city as a dumping site," Lumumba said. "Code enforcement and JPD have arrested people who have literally come into our city and dump trash, appliances and debris."

Part of the long-term contract with Richard's states the company has agreed to help with community clean-up and litter campaigns by supplying trucks. Lumumba said he was "grateful" for Richard's for agreeing with that.

Local subcontractor on the contract

Ward 6 Councilman and Council President Aaron Banks has stated he believes an amendment that requires a local, minority subcontractor be used for the contract. Specifically, he stated that Lee Bush, Lee Bush, one of the owners of National Collections United LLC, should have an opportunity as a subcontractor under Richard's.

Lumumba stated that he doesn't have an issue with Bush, calling him a "wonderful businessman." But that he shouldn't be added to the contract because, "Mr. Bush has not been in the residential collection space."

"He's worked in commercial trash pick-up, which is picking up the big trash bins and emptying those. And so he does not have the equipment," Lumumba said.

If Bush is added to the contract, that "will purely be a Richard's Disposal decision," Lumumba said.

"It is in fact illegal once an RFP goes forward … for me or anybody to require a company to add them (another company) to a contract," Lumumba said. "Mr. Richard's is in fact aware of Councilman Banks desire for local participation, and I think he has expressed a willingness to accommodate that as best as he can."

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson MS mayor defends selection of Richard's Disposal for contract