Dimmit County and Carrizo Springs table brush-pickup interlocal; agree interim schedule

Dimmit County commissioners and the Carrizo Springs City Council met May 2025 at the Richmond Civic Center to discuss an interlocal agreement for county crews to pick up brush in the city. The bodies voted to table the draft agreement for attorneys to finalize wording but agreed that, in the interim, county crews will follow the pickup schedule provided by the city manager, Garcia.

The discussion focused on changes the city requested to the draft interlocal: limit county tipping-fee waivers to material collected within city limits rather than countywide; have the city designate the months when brush pickup will occur (rather than year-round county pickup); and remove a clause that would make the city responsible for damage to county equipment used by city employees. City representatives said year-round pickup makes enforcement of city ordinances difficult because residents take out brush frequently between scheduled collections. County officials raised concerns about landfill licensing and tonnage limits enforced by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Participants exchanged data on past costs and capacity. A city official cited historical tonnage and tipping fees totaling approximately $42,317 in the records presented to the court; landfill staff explained the facility maintains separate daily/weekly tonnage limits for trash and for brush and has handled special storm-related surges by allowing temporary overage. The landfill manager noted the facility currently allows 20 tons for garbage and 20 tons for brush on certain schedules and that free landfill weeks occur quarterly for a full week.

Commissioners proposed several scheduling options during the meeting: keeping twice-yearly city pickups, returning to a previously used monthly-precinct rotation, trying every-other-month service as a trial, or starting quarterly and revisiting. A compromise range discussed was a cap near 40–50 tons for designated pickup periods; commissioners and city staff said they would attempt a trial schedule and gather operational data. County counsel raised a contract-law concern that the interlocal must include consideration (an exchange of value) if the county is providing services beyond the city boundaries; that point led to a recommendation that attorneys draft language making the trade explicit.

The court took formal action to allow both bodies more time to finalize the agreement while adopting the city manager’s schedule in the meantime. Commissioner Montes moved to table the item and continue attorney-to-attorney drafting; Commissioner Cavenha seconded. The county’s motion to table passed (recorded as "all in favor; motion carries"). The parties also discussed handling retroactive tipping-fee credits for loads accepted before the agreement is finalized; staff indicated a credit process could be implemented after the contract is approved and the county’s accounts are reconciled.

Next steps noted at the meeting: county and city attorneys will redraft the interlocal to clarify tonnage caps, tipping-fee waivers limited to city limits (if agreed), liability for equipment, and the schedule; both bodies will place the revised language on upcoming agendas for formal approval. Officials said they will publicize any agreed schedule so residents understand when free service or citations apply.