Scrap dealer must pay county $12.4K

Bedford County's solid waste authority has been awarded judgment against a scrap metal dealer that owed money.

A letter from attorney M. Wyatt Burk informed the authority that judgment was received against Southeast Recovery Group and Robert Madeo in an amount of $12,479.64, plus $150 in court costs.

Burk noted that the judgment was entered on Jan. 5 but did not become final until Friday. The authority has been attempting to collect the payments for scrap metal recycling owed by Madeo of South East Recovery Group since last April.

In July, the authority voted to send a certified letter to the company requesting that payment be made within 30 days.

South East Recovery Group was awarded the contract in December 2008 at 65 percent of the average of the first and third Friday's price of metal on the New York Stock Exchange after Middle Tennessee Metal Recovery fell behind on payments to the county in 2008 due to falling metal prices attributed to the economic downturn.

In November, Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman told the authority that Bob Henning of Middle Tennessee Metal Recovery has paid in full.

Smotherman added on Thursday that it has been "smooth going" with Middle Tennessee Metal Recovery in regards to the payments to the county.

Burk communicated to the authority last October that Madeo was unwilling to voluntarily agree to a proposed promissory note arrangement, and that he felt that he should not be required to pay interest on the money he owes the county.

In other business, the authority elected officers for the new year.

Venson Hawkins was re-elected chairman of the authority, although he said he didn't want the seat, "but I'll do it anyways."

Robert McAnally was elected vice-chair and David Gordon was selected as treasurer.