The Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal heard arguments Tuesday on whether it should allow a lower court's order for the New Orleans City Council to sign off on a $73 million dollar sanitation contract.
Late last year, Civil District Court Judge Paulette Irons ruled in favor of Henry Consulting, which received the contract for trash collection and sanitation in the French Quarter and Downtown Development District. The city council, however, voted not to accept it when Henry Consulting switched subcontractors after their bid was approved.
Henry Consulting's lawyers are arguing that the council's duties when it comes to city contracts are ministerial -- meaning it is the council's duty to approve properly awarded contracts.
In the meantime, IV Waste has been handling the sanitation work on an interim basis. The emergency contract authorizing IV Waste expires in December.
The appellate court's decision may be appealed to the state supreme court.