NATCHEZ, Miss. – Adams County board President Kevin Wilson said garbage collectors should be sought now in case a judge agrees the board can legally fire the New Orleans-based contractor now picking up household trash for residents living outside Natchez.
Meeting Monday with other county supervisors, Wilson suggested the board solicit requests for proposals from garbage companies wanting the job and “be ready to take over if the judge rules in our favor.” No action was taken by the board on his proposal.
In a 2-1 vote in March, Adams County supervisors decided to sue United Infrastructure Services of Louisiana and nullify the trash contract amid complaints about poor service and the company being inadequately insured, registered and licensed to do business in Mississippi. UIS is challenging that in litigation now pending in Adams County Circuit Court. It’s uncertain when the judge will issue a ruling, but it could be within a month or so, said board attorney Scott Slover.
The lawsuit alleges UIS has breached the contract with the county because of poor services that include missed trash pickups and substandard garbage trucks that frequently break down.
“I get texts every day about garbage not being picked up,” Wilson said Monday.
Supervisor Ricky Gray noted UIS can be penalized financially for not collecting trash as contracted to do. The “way to get somebody’s attention is to fine them,” he said.
The vote taken March 3 by supervisors to sue UIS had Wilson and Wes Middleton in favor and Warren Gaines against. The vote was taken after supervisors closed the public out of their meeting and without board members Gray and Angela Hutchins being present. They’ve subsequently said such important decisions should be made when all five county supervisors are present.
The Adams County Board of Supervisors hired United Infrastructure Services in 2023 to serve the 5,700 or so households outside Natchez with twice-a-week garbage pickups. Gaines, Gray and Hutchinson voted to hire UIS while Middleton and Wilson voted against. The $2 million-a-year contract with UIS was followed by a $20-a-month garbage tax increase on county residents, raising the monthly rate to $35, or $420 a year – $240 more than what county residents were paying prior to 2023.
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