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County to advance third‑iteration interlocal with Portland Metro to allow emergency waste hauling
Summary
Public Works presented a draft interlocal agreement with Portland Metro to allow Metro to haul solid waste to Cowlitz County facilities during emergency closures; staff said the provision has been used previously and requested authorization to sign the agreement and return it to the board for consideration.
Public Works presented a draft interlocal agreement that would allow Portland Metro to transport waste to Cowlitz County facilities during emergency closures of Metro transfer stations.
"This would be the third iteration of this agreement," the presenter said, reciting the program history and a 2017 example when Metro used nearby landfills after an emergency at an Eagle Creek transfer station.
Nut graf: Staff described the agreement as a mutual‑aid operational arrangement that is rarely used but valuable when regional routes close due to fire, ice or other events. Public Works provided historical use numbers to illustrate frequency: 17 trucks in 2022, 89 over a 3‑month ice event in 2019, and none in 2018; the contract was unused in 2023–24.
Staff asked for permission to move forward with Portland Metro and return the signed interlocal to the commissioners for formal consideration at a future Tuesday board meeting. A commissioner indicated support for advancing the agreement and staff planned to present the final document to the full board.
Ending: Staff will finalize the interlocal with Portland Metro and schedule it for formal consideration by the board; the arrangement would be used only in emergency scenarios and would charge Portland Metro the county's standard out‑of‑town landfill rates.
