JACKSON, MI –Modern Waste Systems President and Jackson County Commissioner Philip Duckham, 4th District, claims city officials are smearing trash haulers in an attempt to push through the city's single-hauler trash ordinance.

A memo listing registered trash haulers' tax statuses was issued by city officials last month, and shows Duckham is registered with the city, but not up-to-date on his corporate taxes.

Jackson City Manager Patrick Burtch said only trash haulers registered with the city and up-to-date on their taxes will be able to bid on the job of collecting all of the city's refuse when the city goes out for bids.

Burtch said at a community meeting the city will likely go out for bids Friday, April 12, a day after the trash ordinance is scheduled to go into effect.

The ordinance itself will most likely be put on hold after organizers on Monday turned in signed petitions seeking the ordinance be put to a public vote. There were more than 900 signatures on the petition. At least 354 signatures of registered Jackson voters are needed to put the ordinance to a vote.

Jackson City Clerk Andrew Wrozek said the signatures will be tallied by city employees in the next couple of days.

Duckham admitted he is not up-to-date on his federal corporate taxes, but added he has for the last 20 years paid taxes to the City of Jackson. He owes $30 in federal taxes, he said.

"My corporate taxes are none of the city's business," he said. "I hired an attorney to look into it and sure enough, I owe $30 in back (corporate) taxes."

Duckham said if the ordinance does go through as proposed by City Council, he will attempt to bid on the job. Modern Waste Systems have more than 3,000 customers in the city, according to Duckham.

"It's a poorly written ordinance and it's not fair to trash haulers in the city," Duckham said. "Some of the numbers city officials have said the ordinance will save don't add up, especially with trash having to go to the county incinerator."

The ordinance passed by City Council last month requires residents pay for and use a trash hauling company the city chooses and contracts with. Currently, residents are free to choose between any number of trash haulers to pick up their refuse.

There are 17 registered trash haulers in Jackson and a number of unregistered haulers working outside of city regulations, according to city officials.

Duckham has been a county commissioner since 2005.

Contact Will Forgrave at wforgrav@mlive.com or 517-262-7554. Follow him on Twitter at @WillForgrave.