Leon County officials are likely to put their seven-year contract with Waste Pro to the curb and open the competitive bidding process for a new vendor sometime early next year.

The contract, which comes at no cost to the county, is set to expire in September 2020 but instead of renewing it for three years, the county will seek other trash and recycling pickup service providers.

“We do have extensions available to us,” said County Administrator Vince Long. “The current thinking is we would not be making the recommendation to exercise those but put the service back out on the street for fall.”

Despite Maddox connection, county officials comfortable with 2013 Waste Pro selection

Long said putting out the request for bids eight months early would give ample time to transition services to a new provider. Waste Pro could still bid on the new contract.

The move comes amid a call from City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow across the street at City Hall to review and possibly rebid any contracts linked to disgraced commissioner Scott Maddox, who confessed to a pay-to-play scheme, which court records indicated included Waste Pro.

Leon County Commissioners said they are satisfied that their initial competitive bidding process insulated them from any undue influence on the part of Maddox.

Looking for a new solid waste provider for the roughly 25,000 customers in unincorporated Leon County is partially linked to the number of complaints and liquidated damages assessed against Waste Pro.

From the archives in 2014: Waste Pro's rocky roll out

When asked for the number of complaints and fines, county officials said they are compiling totals for both.

Officials with Waste Pro did not address the Leon County contract in a statement Friday afternoon, but said it was "inaccurate and slanderous" to link the company to the Maddox investigation.

Before Waste Pro, the county trash service was provided through Waste Management since 1987.

The Waste Pro connection

Rebidding the contract would take care of any scrutiny warranted, said Leon County Commissioner Nick Maddox.

“I think that does what commissioner Matlow is trying to accomplish with the city Waste Pro contract,” he said.

Commissioner Bryan Desloge agreed.

“In an abundance of caution, we would rebid this,” he said. “We want to do what works.”

Related: Despite Maddox connection, county officials comfortable with 2013 Waste Pro selection

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter