CHINA GROVE — China Grove leaders have contracted with a Lexington company that will collect the town’s garbage and recycling, finishing out a contract by local garbage collector Crash Morrison.
The decision came a week after the owners of Rockwell-based Crash Morrison Garbage Service — which also operates S.H.A.R.K.S. Recycling — that business was no longer operating.
The town had to collect its own garbage and recycling when the Rockwell company did not show.
Morrison said Monday he plans to stay in business. He said he and wife, Joanna, who was the company’s vice president, are separating, and he will continue the business without her.
The China Grove board authorized Town Manager Ken Deal to find a temporary garbage collector. Deal said the town has contracted with North Davidson Garbage Service.
He said the cost is within the town’s budget and the Lexington company also has its own recycle processing center, which the town considered an added feature.
Deal asked the board to approve a contract through the end of December.
The town has the option to renegotiate.
The board held its regular meeting Tuesday and discussed the legalities of its contract with Crash Morrison. Deal has said Morrison’s contract was voided when he did not provide services.
Morrison allowed the town to use two of his garbage trucks a week ago at no cost so the town staff could collect the garbage.
Landis has also found an interim waste collector, Waste Pro, which began collecting for the town on Monday.
Some residential customers told the Post they decided to stick with Crash Morrison, while others have found a new garbage collector.
Morrison said he hopes to collect all of the garbage that was not picked up by the end of the week.
Rowan County has several garbage collection services with “Morrison” in the name, but they are not affiliated with Crash Morrison.
The board went into closed session and authorized town attorney Tom Brooke to write a letter to Crash Morrison for breach of contract.
However, Town Manager Ken Deal said he would like to meet with Morrison and Brooke before sending the letter.
Deal said the town did not foresee the need for legal action.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253. Twitter: www.twitter.com/salpostpotts Facebook: www.facebook.com/Shavonne.SalisburyPost.