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PUTNAM NEWS
Waste Management may acquire Cummings
HURRICANE, W.Va. -- Waste Management of West Virginia has been named in an application to potentially acquire Cummings Collection Service.
West Virginia Public Service Commission spokesperson Sarah Robertson said that a joint application was filed with the commission on Aug. 27, 2008, seeking permission for Waste Management to purchase Cummings Collection Service and its business assets and permits.
In recent months, customers have complained about spotty or nonexistent service from Cummings. A spokesperson said the company had been mired with problems out of its control, like disabled collection vehicles and loss of personnel.
In the application document, Cummings lists the cost of the sale at a total of $2.5 million. A Cummings sand and gravel business located in Hurricane is not part of this agreement.
Although the matter has not yet been put on the docket for consideration, Robertson says the application also includes a request for expedited treatment with an unspecified date for intervention.
If the sale moves forward, Waste Management, headquartered in Bridgeport, W.Va., will enter into a property lease agreement with Cummings for up to one year until they can acquire or construct an operations facility of their own.
Serving Putnam County for over 50 years, Cummings has been plagued for some months with several hardships, leading to inconsistent service. Customer complaints ultimately led to investigations by the West Virginia Public Service Commission.
Arson, vandalism, mechanical problems and a lack of drivers were said to be factors bringing about service delays.
Co-owner Betty Cummings declined comment because of the ongoing application process, but in a previous story she told the Putnam Herald that Cummings was working to rectify the situation and sale of the business was the last option her family would consider.
Cummings serves about 14,000 customers in Putnam County and parts of Charleston.
