In an email sent to city staff earlier this week, Peyton said offering a 35-year contract worth $750 to Waste Management to continue operating the city's Trail Ridge landfill will save taxpayers more than $200 million.

"I have met with independent waste disposal experts," the Mayor's memo reads. "They have assured me that no other company could match, much less better, the proposed contract. If council chooses to bid the contract, more than $200 million in guaranteed savings will be lost, and taxpayers will foot the bill. Likewise, if the council chooses to bid the contract, it will trigger an immediate $30 million-plus cost to close the current site."

Cindy Laquidara, an attorney with the city's General Counsel's office, says there's no secret dealings going on and argues any company wanting to bid on the contract can attend city council meetings and weigh-in on the process.

"There hasn't been anyone who has filed a protest or anything like that to date," she told WOKV.

But one rival company, Republic Services, is on a public relations campaign to force lawmakers to look at competing bids before awarding the lucrative extension to Waste Management.

"There's still probably 100 million dollars of excess profits in this deal," Jim Arnold of Republic told channel 4. "We believe competitive bidding will flush that out and the real number will be on the table."

A few city council members agree, and are hoping lawmakers at least consider other offers for trash disposal service.

"As council representatives, it is incumbent upon us to make certain that the taxpayers get the best deal possible," Webb said. "You have a competitive negotiating process, and that is the due process that is involved in what ultimately is the best deal for the city."

Mayor John Peyton joins Jacksonville's Morning News at 8 a.m. to talk about the effort, and explain why he favors a closed-bid process.