The temporary restraining order filed by a French Quarter resident and business owner who claimed the mayor overstepped her emergency powers in awarding a trash contract to Henry Consulting was denied by Orleans Civil Court Judge Sidney Cates Tuesday.
This centers around Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s decision on July 9 to award an emergency sanitation contract for the French Quarter and Downtown to Henry Consulting.
The city council voted to override the emergency declaration the day after it was filed, calling it an abuse of power as it relates to the city’s charter. However, the mayor had already signed the emergency contract.
It follows a previous move by the mayor to terminate the existing trash contract with IV Waste by the end of July.
There is a preliminary injunction set for July 23 that could change the future of the contract.
The back-and-forth between the city and the city council started back in December, when the council refused to sign off on the $73 million contract with Henry Consulting after it was revealed he had switched the subcontractor outlined in the request for proposal.
Henry Consulting decided to split from Richard’s Disposal over a payment dispute; however, the two companies later reconciled.
That decision prompted Mayor Cantrell to move forward with the initial bid.
Council members fired back at Henry Consulting over changing the terms of the deal behind closed doors without making them privy to the adjustments.
Meanwhile, owner Troy Henry is suing the council over the decision not to sign off on the contract.
There is a sanitation committee meeting Thursday to dig deeper into this ongoing dispute to better understand what happens next and why the emergency declaration for Henry Consulting was issued.
READ MORE:Judge denies restraining order over French Quarter trash contract
