Amador County – ACES Waste Service of Pine Grove may just get a few more customers, after the solid waste company there notified Ione City Hall that it would no longer be operating in Ione. ACES, owned by Paul Molinelli, recently outbid Amador Disposal for the franchise contract in Sutter Creek. It also holds the franchise in Jackson, but Ione City Manager Kim Kerr said in Ione, there is only a permit allowing solid waste business, not the franchise agreement. Kerr told the Ione City Council Tuesday that the operators of Amador Disposal notified the city and customers that it will cease operations in Ione effective August 1st. Kerr said stopping its work here was economically motivated, and “it’s a double digit increase they would need to do business here.” She said operating under the agreement, the city “can’t guarantee cooperation in the transition” from company to company. The city can mention in its newsletter that Amador Disposal is leaving the city, but due to antitrust law, it can only give contact information for ACES. Amador Disposal will pick up their containers at the end of July, and residents have a month-and-a-half to make their decisions. Kerr said “they lost Sutter Creek, now they are pulling out here.” The will continue to offer “porta-pottie” services, and will run the transfer station in the Buena Vista area. “ACES is going to get a lot more customers,” said Councilman David Plank. If ACES does take over the city customers’ routes, Plank said they cannot change rates, which were set by a city council resolution. Kerr said the city will give people information with their sewer bills. Plank said the 2 companies must communicate. Kerr said “I did ask Amador Disposal to provide a customer list and the rates they were charging and they refused to do that.” In public comment, resident Elmer Rohde said the transition was simple. He called Amador Disposal Friday to cancel his account and called ACES Friday also, and “they start my service tomorrow.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.