At the Grant County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Aug. 28, 2025, residents urged the board to proceed cautiously after a July presentation about outsourcing the county's solid-waste operation and widely circulated reports that monthly fees could jump from $5 to as much as $30 or more.

The remarks came during a public-input segment in which multiple speakers described worry about large increases, automation and job losses, and the risk of increased illegal dumping if access becomes harder. Lewis Mitchell, of Buckhorn, said the prospect of raising "our waste management fees from the current $5 a month to $30 a month" had "set off a firestorm in our community." Ken Sikala, a District 3 resident, warned that a contract should include price controls and said, "any changes going forward has to be in the best interest of the citizens of Grant County." Leah Villanreal, who runs a farm, told commissioners she feared that automating transfer stations would increase illegal dumping and remove local jobs.

Other commenters pressed for clearer numbers and public outreach. Colton Dalton, a local farmer, said he could not locate clear information about the proposal and urged "more public information" before any decision. Lawrence Schreiber criticized the private vendor presentation, saying the plan appeared to "privatize a what is currently a public supported or a, county supported operation" and that outsourcing would be "for profit." Several speakers referenced a July 24 presentation by an outside firm and said headline figures circulating on social media had amplified confusion.

Commissioners repeatedly stressed that no decision had been made. Chairman Ponce told the public the July presentation was only that: "it was a presentation. Hasn't been on this agenda. It's probably not gonna be on the next agenda." He added directly: "There is no $60 fee coming. There is no $30 fee coming right now." Commissioner Stevens said the county should develop and share clear information before a vote, noting "some increase may be warranted" given the long interval since the last change. Commissioners asked staff to gather additional information and to make any future proposals available to the public before a formal action.

No motion to adopt fee changes or to award a contract to a private company was made at the Aug. 28 meeting. The commissioners did approve other unrelated items on the agenda that day, but the solid-waste topic was discussed only as public comment and informal commissioner remarks; no formal action, public hearing, or vote on rates or a contract took place.

What happens next

Commissioners said the next steps are to gather more detailed cost estimates, information about potential impacts on jobs and curbside service, and options for price controls or caps tied to an index. They also discussed options such as limited automation combined with locally retained employment and possible pay-as-you-go models for heavy users. The board did not set a date for any formal hearing on the issue; when a proposal is scheduled it will appear on a future agenda and the county will provide public notice, the chair said.