New Hanover County Commissioner Jason Thompson said his company, Diversified Biomass, has one contract with the city of Wilmington to process yard debris. He said he doesn’t handle those contracts to prevent any conflict of interest and that they go through the formal, open bidding process.

“We submitted a bid just like everybody else,” Thompson said.

A three-year contract was awarded to Diversified Biomass in April 2007, paying the company $5.40 per ton to process yard debris. A two-year extension was granted earlier this year.

The contract is expected to cost the city more than $70,000 a year.

Date posted: August 12, 2010

User-contributed question by:
Ben McCoy