Parkersburg Responds to West Virginia PSC Memo on Sanitation Contract

City says it has no objection to PSC review, but broader investigation not merited

Feb. 2, 2026 at 11:31pm

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The City of Parkersburg has responded to a West Virginia Public Service Commission memo recommending further investigation of the city's shift from its own Sanitation Department to a contract with Waste Management. The city says it has no objection to the contract being submitted to the PSC for approval, but challenges the broader inquiry sought by a property owner's petition, denying any mismanagement of funds and citing staffing challenges that led to the need for a contractor.

Why it matters

This case highlights the tensions between municipal governments, regulatory agencies, and citizen stakeholders over the provision of essential public services like trash collection. The city argues the shift to a private contractor was necessary due to staffing shortages, while a property owner alleges potential mismanagement and is seeking a broader investigation.

The details

In its response, the city says it has no objection to the PSC reviewing the Waste Management contract, but challenges the broader inquiry sought by property owner Carole Hanlon's petition, which accused the city of mismanagement and sought audits and potential criminal prosecution. The city denies any fiscal mismanagement, citing annual audits, and says staffing shortages in the Sanitation Department, including high turnover and difficulty hiring qualified drivers, led to the need for a contractor. The city says it continued recruiting efforts even as the contract was being negotiated, but was unable to maintain necessary staffing levels.

  • Around the end of 2023, the number of Sanitation Department staff began declining, falling well below authorized staffing levels.
  • By the middle of 2024, the department had 10-12 vacancies among its 27 budgeted positions.
  • From July 1, 2024 to June 20, 2025, the city hired 32 new sanitation employees but lost 30 to resignation, retirement or termination for not obtaining a CDL license.
  • As of the city's response, it has just 5 sanitation employees, using workers from other departments and temporary labor to continue trash pickup.

The players

Carole Hanlon

A Parkersburg property owner who filed a petition with the West Virginia Public Service Commission seeking an evaluation of the potential impact of the city's shift to a Waste Management contract for sanitation services.

Blaine Myers

The City Attorney for Parkersburg, who authored the city's response to the PSC memo.

J.D. Beane

The Wood County Circuit Judge who dismissed Hanlon's request for a temporary restraining order, noting incorrect or nonexistent case law citations that appeared to be generated by AI.

Waste Management

The private waste management company that entered into a contract with the City of Parkersburg to provide sanitation services.

Parkersburg Correctional Center

A source of temporary labor that the city has used to help continue trash pickup operations.

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What they’re saying

“Such a broad inquiry is not merited by any objective facts.”

— Blaine Myers, City Attorney, Parkersburg

“I generally viewed that as rather than answer the issues that I have raised as a property owner, citizen, rate-payer, before the PSC, they attack me personally — that's the way I read it — and failed to respond to the PSC's recommendation for further investigation.”

— Carole Hanlon

What’s next

The West Virginia Public Service Commission will decide whether to approve the Parkersburg-Waste Management sanitation contract or pursue a broader investigation as recommended in its initial memo.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex challenges municipalities face in maintaining essential public services, balancing budgets, and navigating regulatory oversight - all while navigating the concerns of citizen stakeholders. The city argues necessity, while the property owner alleges potential mismanagement, underscoring the need for transparency and accountability in local government operations.