LANDIS — The town board agreed Monday to extend the contract of interim garbage collector Waste Pro, the company that filled in after the town’s former trash collector didn’t show.
The former garbage collector, Crash Morrison Garbage Services Inc., contacted the town and other municipal clients a few weeks ago to say that the Rockwell-based company would not be picking up their trash.
Landis was one of the municipalities that created an emergency action plan that required its town staff, including members of the fire department, to collect the town’s trash.
Landis used to haul its own garbage before it contracted with Crash Morrison in 2011 as well as recycling collection from S.H.A.R.K.S. Recycling, also a Crash Morrison company.
The town used its own two trash trucks to collect the garbage before then. After the town contracted out its garbage, the trucks were used for limb and leaf collection.
The board held a special meeting a few weeks ago to determine what the town would do regarding its garbage pick-up.
Crash Morrison told a Post reporter he was on the verge of a stroke and he and his wife, Joanna, who was listed as the company’s vice president, were separating.
He returned to his residential customers a few days after announcing to his municipal clients the company would shut down. Morrison said he would forge ahead by himself.
Town board members made it clear they would not continue to do business with Crash Morrison and instead decided to go with an interim waste collector.
The board agreed it was too late for the Rockwell company and decided to contract with Waste Pro. Waste Pro began a week ago.
The contract was extended through June 30, which marks the end of the fiscal year. The new contract does not impact the budget, said Town Manager Reed Linn, since “they are doing it for the same price as the previous contractor.”
Terri Masten, N.C. market development manager with Waste Pro, spoke to the board about the company’s North Carolina locations, which include Concord. The company is based in Florida, but has a number of North Carolina clients.
Masten suggested changing the day the garbage is collected from Monday to Friday and collecting the recycling on the same day, but the board did not agree.
She said Friday is a coveted day and allows less trash in the bins over the weekend.
Mayor James Furr said he liked the idea of picking up garbage on the same day, but was hesitant to shift to a new day when Waste Pro remains an interim collector.
The town of China Grove last week contracted with Lexington company, North Davidson Garbage Service, for interim garbage collection.
The board also:

• Heard a presentation from N-Focus regarding planning services for the town. Company representatives Richard Flow and Shelley Williamson were on hand at the meeting to introduce themselves. Williamson used to provide planning services for the town through Centralina Council of Governments.
• Approved a proclamation to support the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization whose members received the Purple Heart. The award is given to any member of the military who is wounded or killed in combat.
• Approved to close town hall at noon on Nov. 26 for the annual Christmas Parade.

Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253. Twitter: www.twitter.com/salpostpotts Facebook: www.facebook.com/Shavonne.SalisburyPost.