Hamilton Co. officials were approached about business with E-Cycle

Hamilton County purchasing director Ken Blankenship said Thursday that lobbyist Charles Love talked to him earlier this year about doing business with E-Cycle Management Inc.

“We were contacted by Mr. Love, who called to say that he was aware of a company interested in disposing of surplus or old electronic equipment,” Blankenship said.

This is the second reported incident of local officials being approached about doing business with the company.

Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton this week called for an investigation into the handling of a business proposal submitted by the fake FBI company, E-Cycle Management Inc.

Love was one of seven people arrested and charged last week in an FBI sting. Prosecutors have described Love as one of two “bagmen,” in the scheme to give payoffs to lawmakers. Five current and former members of the Legislature also were charged.

Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey said he and County Commissioner William Cotton had lunch with Love and representatives of E-Cycle in February.

Ramsey described the meeting as “chit chat more than anything else,” and said never heard anything more about the company.