Dive Brief:

• State Representative Aaron Miller published an open letter last week asking Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette to investigate the Flint City Council's handling of ongoing contract negotiations. 
• Miller argues that the city council's decision to vote against a contract with Rizzo Environmental Services — the lowest bid by about $2 million — constituted "financial mismanagement." Flint's charter requires that the city go with the "lowest responsible" bid.
• The attorney general's press secretary confirmed that their office received the letter and is currently reviewing it. 

Dive Insight:

Earlier this summer, the Flint City Council voted against a last-minute bid from Rizzo Environmental Services due to questions of integrity and supported renewing a contract with Republic Services. Mayor Karen Weaver supports Rizzo. This has since led to contentious debate, a lawsuit and the temporary suspension of collections last week. Miller's grievances seem to extend beyond waste collection to Flint's unstable finances and broader state politics.

"Where I come from, $2 million worth of savings is a lot of money," he wrote. "What do my cities receive from the state as a reward for acting responsibly? Nothing. And yet the state has always seemed willing to reward bad behavior elsewhere in the state or let it go unchecked. I’m tired of that and would like to see it stop."

One council member told MLive that she believes local lawmakers have done nothing wrong and would welcome an investigation. After public pushback, Mayor Weaver recently asked Republic to continue collections until Aug. 12. The Receivership Transition Authority Board is expected to resolve the contract dispute soon and, if not, the matter will return to court on Aug. 11 for a final decision.