Dive summary:

• Republic Services has taken steps to reach a final decision with the city of Bartow, Fla., after residents complained of over-billing and not receiving service.
• The city will consider the settlement next week, but have said that the Republic Services offer is in line with what they were looking for, which is about $1.5 million.
• If issues are not resolved by March 8, the city is free to cancel Republic’s contract and look for another hauler.

From the article:

An internal county audit estimated at least $1.4 million was overbilled by the county and paid to Republic over seven years beginning in 2005. Most of that garbage assessments charged on property that did not contain a home or did not contain a completed home.

That audit came on the heels of a series of articles published early last year in The Ledger.

The Ledger's investigation involved complaints first pointed out by Lakeland businessman Tom Mims, who said he discovered problems while doing research for a private landfill he has proposed south of Mulberry. The 2010 approval of that landfill is still tied up in litigation. ...