[paypal_donation_button]FLINT, MI – A Genesee County judge is set to rule on whether or not recall efforts to remove Flint Mayor Karen Weaver from office can move forward.
Genesee County 7th Circuit Court Judge Geoffrey Neithercut will hold a hearing April 24, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. to review an appeal filed by Weaver against language to remove her from office over the city’s controversial trash contract.
The language, filed by Flint resident Arthur Woodson, was approved by the Genesee County Election Commission on March 8, and then appealed on March 17 by Weaver’s attorney Kendall Williams.
Weaver had 10 days from the approval to file an appeal.
Woodson’s language read, “Mayor Karen Weaver, on September 22, 2016 signed an emergency waste collection contract with Rizzo Environmental Service(s).”
In June 2016, Weaver’s administration asked the council to approve a $17.9-million contract with Rizzo Environmental Services but council members questioned the company’s integrity and later voted 8 to 1 not to support Weaver’s recommendation.
Flint City Council members and Weaver’s team finally reached an agreement to continue using Republic Waste Services to haul Flint’s trash shortly after October 2016 reports that Rizzo was at the center of a federal corruption investigation in Macomb County.
Woodson’s approved language represents the fourth attempt to remove Weaver.
Woodson initially submitted recall language on January 23, 2017. On January 27 he withdrew that language saying he met with Weaver to address his concerns.
He submitted the Feb. 24 language after he said that Weaver did not keep promises made at the meeting. Weaver has not confirmed that she met with Woodson and FlintBeat.com could not immediately reach the mayor for comment.
If the language makes it through court, Woodson will have 60 days to collect signatures in hopes of getting the recall put on the November ballot along with Flint’s city council race. He would need to collect equal to or more than 25 percent of the city’s last governor’s election turnout.