The Kent County Board of Supervisors approved a supplemental appropriation to cover increased sludge disposal costs after county wastewater staff said material from the jail’s waste stream is disrupting an upstream treatment plant’s processes. The appropriation is contingent on an agreement with Henrico Utilities to cover the added expense.

Public Utilities staff member Mr. Lane described a recent request from Henrico Wastewater Treatment Plant staff that the county filter hauled sludge because fine and fibrous material from the jail was disrupting Henrico’s treatment processes. “We trace this back to the jail,” Lane told the board, and said the county proposes hauling the material to HRSD for processing at roughly double the prior disposal cost. Lane said the additional disposal request is $225,000 and that Henrico’s director of utilities, Mr. Chan, has agreed verbally to cover those costs but no written agreement existed as of the meeting.

The nut graf: The board approved appropriating funds to ensure the county can pay higher disposal costs immediately if required, but the appropriation is explicitly contingent on a signed agreement making Henrico responsible for reimbursing the county.

Supervisors pressed for a written guarantee. Supervisor Mr. Moyer asked, “What guarantee do we have that they are going to cover that cost?” Lane answered that county attorneys would draft a written agreement and that the county currently had no guarantee. Lane and other staff noted the county’s existing contract with Henrico gives the county some leverage because Henrico has obligations under that agreement to handle county sludge.

A motion to appropriate $220,000 from the Public Utilities General Fund for additional sludge handling was moved and carried; the motion text specified contingency on Henrico’s agreement to pay $225,000. The recorded votes were: Ms. Pearson—Aye; Mr. Sears—Aye; Ms. Stewart—Aye; Mr. Moyer—Aye; Mr. Evelyn—Aye. The motion passed.

Board members asked how the reimbursement would be handled and when the county would begin hauling to HRSD; Lane said the county would not incur the additional cost until a written agreement is in place and that, as of the agenda preparation, the county had not yet received a formal compliance letter from Henrico. The board directed staff to seek a written cost-sharing agreement with Henrico and to track the supplemental appropriation as a separate line item in the utility budget.