Daniels County staff work toward interlocal agreement to route county garbage to Plentywood landfill

Daniels County and city officials discussed a proposed interlocal agreement under which city crews would drive county curbside garbage directly to the Plentywood landfill rather than transferring loads at the county transfer site. County staff said the arrangement would simplify handling and reduce double-handling of full containers. The city would provide the vehicle, operator and day-to-day supervision; the county would reimburse the city for the service.

Under the draft terms discussed, the city would bill the county $40 an hour for the city employee doing the hauling and $2.00 per mile, with an estimated round-trip mileage ceiling used for budgeting (the draft used a 90-mile round trip as an example). Parties noted a working estimate of about $300 per fully loaded trip while they collect operational data during trial runs. The draft would require the city to submit statements by the 28th of each month so the county can timely process payments.

Logan, the city staff member who presented the draft, told commissioners he would prepare a written interlocal agreement and forward it to the county for legal review. He asked that the board review the draft so the county could act on it at the next meetings; he planned to send a version to the city attorney and requested the county return a signed interlocal after both bodies approve it. Commissioners said they wanted a termination clause allowing either party to end the agreement with 60 days' written notice so both sides would have time to re-establish regular service if needed.

The agreement would include mutual indemnities, a requirement that the city carry commercial liability insurance (the draft referenced being added as additional insured), and language assigning responsibility for employee pay/benefits to the city. The parties also proposed an administrative review committee to meet only as needed to adjudicate disputes; suggestions included a county-designated commissioner, the city manager or mayor's designee, a city solid-waste representative and a citizen-at-large. City staff said they will confirm whether the city wants a named solid-waste representative on the committee.

County and city staff plan trial runs to confirm loaded weights and round-trip times before finalizing reimbursements. Logan said he would draft the interlocal and send it to the county this week so the board could consider it at its next meeting; the city plans to consider it at its next council meeting after its review. No formal board action was taken during the discussion; commissioners asked staff to proceed and return the draft for formal approval at a future public meeting.