Former Scott City mayor refutes claims made about loss of curbside recycling pickup

Former Scott City mayor Tim Porch has taken issue with claims Mayor Ron Cummins made about the city’s recycling program.

Late last week, Scott City unexpectedly announced the end of curbside recycling pickup. Cummins said the company that picks up recycling was faced with a broken truck.

Shortly after the company requested assistance with repairs, the city council discovered there was no official, signed contract between the city and Inter-Rail Systems Inc.

Cummins placed much of the blame on Porch. In response to Cummins’ claim, which Porch said is false, Porch provided a copy of a contract dated Sept. 17, 2012, and signed by the president of ISI and Randy Morse, who served as mayor pro-tem at the time of the contract.

The contract provides recycling service through 2017, and it indicates ownership of recycling vehicles remains with the city. The vehicles were leased to ISI for the cost of $1 per month.

Ron Cummins

“Inter-Rail was never given the equipment or the vehicles, it is all still owned by Scott City,” Porch wrote in an email.

Porch said there was a plan to give the trucks to ISI, and Cummins was present for the discussion.

“A resolution was passed to give the trucks to Inter-Rail, but the titles were never signed,” Porch wrote.

On Monday, Cummins said the city does not have a contract on file, but has confirmed with ISI president Robert Janota a contract exists.

“We were working off information our city administrator gave us — the city did not have a copy of a signed agreement with Inter-Rail Services,” Cummins said.

The arrangement made with ISI was beneficial to the city, Porch said. The city was losing money handling its own recycling. ISI stepped in and provided the service to Scott City at no cost, he said.

“Prior to this agreement, the city had two to three men working full time on the recycling. The bulk product sold by the city yearly did not cover the cost of one employee,” Porch wrote. “The agreement was a good one for everyone in Scott City, except for maybe Inter-Rail Systems.”

Porch said reduced tax rates ISI received by working on the old Blair building were in exchange for making improvements to the building.

“The company has installed new concrete floors in the place of old wood floors, constructed news offices and have tuck pointed the exterior brick,” Porch said.

Cummins said the city is negotiating with ISI to help repair the truck and return curbside service to residents.

Until then, residents have been asked to drop off their recycling at certain locations in town. ISI will continue providing the city with recycling services at the drop-off sites.

Porch insists the issue regarding the loss of recycling pickup lies with decisions made by the current administration and not during his term.

“I am not sure why I, being the former mayor, got thrown under the bus,” Porch wrote, “but during my tenure we had recycling.”

Inter-Rail Systems Inc. did not return calls seeking comment.

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630