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Granite County adopts revised solid-waste policy, approves contract framework for businesses
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners approved a seventh revision to the county solid-waste policy and a companion contract framework for businesses that will tie assessed units to actual use; the changes include new hours and a per-unit fee increase.
Granite County commissioners on Tuesday adopted the seventh revision of the county solid-waste procedures and policy and approved a proposed contract that will require some businesses to document the number of waste “units” they use.
The changes affect service hours, the per-unit charge and billing language. County Attorney Blaine Bradshaw summarized the revisions during the meeting: “There are 3 basic changes. 1 is the hours, 10 to 6, both Upper And Lower Valley,” and he described an increase in the per‑unit charge to $8 (previously about $7.50). The commission voted to accept the policy and later approved the companion contract agreement; both motions passed on voice votes.
Why it matters: the revised policy changes when the county-run facilities operate and alters how businesses will be billed and notified. County staff said the contract is meant to reconcile what a business is assessed on the county tax roll with the actual number of waste units it uses during the year; businesses that exceed their assessed units will receive a notification and copy of the agreement.
Supporting details and discussion: Bradshaw and county staff walked commissioners through administrative clarifications in the draft manual, including consistent posted hours for both the Upper and Lower Valley sites and a clearer definition of overage billing. County staff said they will compare county assessment records with actual unit usage and send letters to affected businesses listing the assessment and the county’s usage records. Commissioners discussed logistics for collecting signatures and whether the county chair should sign agreements on multiple businesses at once.
Staff and elected officials also noted timing limits set by the Montana Department of Revenue for assessment changes: staff said signed contracts and any adjustments need to be in place and communicated in time for Department of Revenue deadlines (staff referenced early-September deadlines for reporting assessment changes).
Votes at a glance: the board approved the seventh revision of the Granite County Solid Waste procedures and policy and separately approved the proposed contract agreement. Both motions were approved on voice votes by the commissioners present.
What’s next: county staff will draft and send letters to affected businesses showing assessed units and the proposed contract; staff also said they will continue to refine billing implementation and the county will revisit unit counts periodically.
