Oak Grove City Council rethinks solid waste franchise over ownership concerns, names new finance director

At the Oak Grove City Council meeting on Tuesday night, council members discussed rescinding their bid to Stinky Pinky as their new solid waste franchise after learning of a partial share buy out from Waste Pro.

Christian County NowOak Grove City Council meeting Aug. 21, 2024. (Lily Russell)

OAK GROVE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – At the Oak Grove City Council meeting on Tuesday night, council members discussed rescinding their bid to Stinky Pinky as their new solid waste franchise after learning of a partial share buyout from Waste Pro.

At a council meeting on Aug. 15, members approved Stinky Pinky as their new solid waste franchise, replacing GFL Environmental after customer dissatisfaction. Right after that meeting, councilwoman Janet Edwards said she received a phone call that Stinky Pinky had sold a share of their business or was in the process of selling their business to a Florida-based company called Waste Pro.

“It is to my knowledge that Waste Pro purchased a majority share of Stinky Pinky and I called them a couple of days ago and they said they are simply acting as managerial rather than becoming the owners,” said council member John Campbell.

Council members along with audience members expressed their disappointment in Mayor Jackie Oliver, as she knew of this company change. “If you knew this why didn’t you share this with council,” asked Edwards. “I would have voted differently.”

Oliver told the council she only found out minutes beforehand and it was a rumor with no time to confirm if it was true. “I don’t spread rumors,” she said.

The meeting then moved into executive session where no decisions were made.

Appointment of finance director

After weeks of being the interim finance director, Matt Egbert was approved by the council as the city’s official finance director.

“I feel he has done a good job and I make a motion to approve him as our finance director,” said councilwoman Jean Leavell.

Upon the passing of the motion, the audience cheered and applauded council’s decision. Egbert’s approval has been long awaited as the past couple of weeks he has been working to finalize the unfinished 2023 fiscal year audit and get Oak Grove in good standing.

Egbert gave an update to council telling them auditors will be on site this week to complete the 2023 audit, with plans to then move to 2024. He also said he will be conducting a follow-up meeting regarding a playground grant for upgrades at Wades Way Park.