Residential customers of Rockwell-based Crash Morrison Garbage Service, which has reportedly closed, are left asking what will happen to their trash.
The company called some of its municipal clients Monday and informed them of service interruption. As for the residential clients, many told the Post they didn’t receive the same notice.
The company, which is owned and operated by Crash and his wife Joanna Morrison, has left many of its clients wondering if they’ll recoup their money and if they should find another collector. The couple have not responded to repeated attempts from the Post for an interview. The two told China Grove officials Tuesday they were closing.
Deloris Boone, who lives in the West Winds subdivision just off N.C. 150, said she and a few other neighbors have contracts with the company, but are still trying to determine if someone will collect their garbage today.
“I’m hoping someone would pick it up. I’ll wait to see what happens this week, but if they don’t, I’ll have to find somebody else,” she said.
Boone said on Wednesday she’s been a customer for 30 years.
Gene Long, who lives in east Landis, said he and about 75 other families have the same concerns as many other residential customers of the Rockwell company. His garbage and that of his neighbors was supposed to be collected Monday and Tuesday.
“The containers are still sitting on the road. It’s a situation,” he said.
Long said he asked some of his neighbors if they would hold off finding another collector until some decision is reached by nearby Landis and China Grove.
The town of Landis on Wednesday held a special called meeting to discuss its options for garbage pick-up.
Public Works Director Steve Rowland told the board he spoke with company foreman Rick Jackson on Monday. Jackson said he walked into the company and found its owners were in the middle of an argument. Jackson told Rowland he was terminated by Joanna Morrison. Landis officials began calling the company Monday morning and never received a response.
Rowland also said the first time he spoke with owner Crash Morrison was on Wednesday, just 15 minutes before the meeting began.
Rowland said Morrison apologized for the inconvenience and promised to collect the town’s waste on Monday morning.
“Now he’s a little late. As far as Crash Morrison, I feel we’re pretty well done,” said Alderman Roger Safrit.
“This contractor failed us miserably,” said Mayor James Furr.
Alderman Tony Hilton said up until this point, the company had been doing great work for the town.
“It’s regrettable that personal issues caused this and now we move on,” Hilton said.
None of the board members mentioned what the “personal issues” were but did make it clear they would not continue to do business with the Rockwell company.
The town initiated an emergency action plan that meant members of its fire department, streets and water department collected all of the town’s garbage on Monday and recycling on Tuesday.
During the meeting, the board approved making inquiries to contract with an interim garbage collector to finish out the existing fiscal year and immediately work on getting a more permanent contractor.
Town Manager Reed Linn said if the town could not find a temporary collector in the next few days, town staff would again have to collect the town’s waste. The town staff will proceed with an interim contractor for 90 days.
Alderman Hilton suggested if the town of China Grove wanted to jointly enter into a contract with Landis, then perhaps they could help both their towns.
The town of China Grove was able to secure two of Crash Morrison’s trucks Wednesday so town staff could collect its trash.
Crash and his wife Joanna Morrison have operated the company as its been known since 1997, but prior to that it was headed by his father, Walter Morrison.
Other waste companies with the name Morrison in them say they are still serving their customers and the Rockwell company is not affiliated with them.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253. Twitter: www.twitter.com/salpostpotts Facebook: www.facebook.com/Shavonne.SalisburyPost.