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Floyd supervisors approve staff to seek and buy recycling box truck up to $65,000
Summary
The board authorized staff to go to bid and to purchase a recycling box truck (with lift gate) up to $65,000, citing high rental costs and aging county vehicles. The county also authorized design/bids for a new tipping building at the transfer station.
Supervisors authorized county staff to seek bids and purchase a recycling box truck with a tuckaway liftgate for up to $65,000, citing rising rental costs and frequent breakdowns of the county’s existing box trucks.
At the meeting staff said the county has spent thousands on rental trucks after its fleet experienced repeated failures. “We’ve been spending a quarter of a box truck on rentals,” a county solid-waste staff member said, describing heavy rental costs since December. Board members and staff discussed buying a newer used truck from southern states to avoid salt corrosion and lengthen vehicle life.
Vote and next steps: The motion to permit staff to go to bid and to purchase a used or new truck up to $65,000 passed unanimously. Supervisors Bechtel, Cookenbrook, Cox, Booth and Turner recorded “yes” votes. Staff will advertise, accept bids, and — if a suitable vehicle is available under the cap — complete the purchase with authorized signatures.
Tipping building and transfer-station operations: Supervisors also authorized staff to proceed with an RFP process for a new tipping building at the county transfer station; that item will return to the board for final approval of bids. County staff and the board discussed longer-term operational changes at the transfer station, including the possibility of a rear-loader trash truck, consolidation of recycling destinations to reduce hauling costs, and improved camera monitoring to curb illegal dumping and hazardous waste at green-box sites.
Why it matters: Staff argued that owning a modern box truck would be cheaper than continued rentals and would reduce equipment downtime. The county will draw from undesignated general-fund balances set aside through past budgeting practices to cover the purchase, staff said.
Community concerns: Staff said illegal dumping, full green-box sites, and heavy items (mattresses, furniture) have increased disposal workload and injured workers, prompting consideration of new operational protocols, additional cameras, and expanded recycling destinations to reduce transport costs.
