Board tables tire-fee proposal after staff outlines heavy operating loss; supervisors ask for phased approach

Floyd County supervisors on July 22 reviewed a staff analysis showing the county’s current tire‑disposal service runs at a substantial operating loss and discussed options to reduce the shortfall.

Solid‑waste staff presented a worksheet that compared three fee models: current practices, a per‑pound fee and a flat per‑tire schedule. Staff said the county’s current annual revenue from tires is small (examples shown in the presentation included figures in the thousands) while direct disposal and hauling expenses run much higher (the staff estimate presented an illustrative annual expense near $146,000 under current operations).

Staff recommended a per‑pound fee — the presentation modeled a 19¢ per‑pound rate that would approach break‑even under optimistic capture assumptions — and discussed a higher 21¢ per‑pound option. They warned that accurately capturing pounds requires staff handling and weighing and would increase labor costs if the county tried to quantify and process every tire brought to the transfer station. That tradeoff is important because manual sorting and weighing of bulk deliveries could require adding employees, which would worsen the operating picture unless per‑pound rates were higher.

Why this matters: The county’s transfer-station tire program is systemically loss‑making, and the board must choose between raising fees, adding staff to track and weigh tires, or accepting the subsidy as part of solid‑waste service provision. Staff said a per‑pound fee set at roughly 19¢ would bring revenue closer to current expenses under full capture assumptions; board members suggested starting at that rate and revisiting after monitoring.

Board action: Several supervisors asked for time to consult with the county attorney and with absent board member Jerry before finalizing a change. The board voted to table the solid‑waste fee review and directed staff to return with detailed cost and implementation figures at the Aug. 12 meeting. Staff also said they could publish guidance for businesses and residents showing average tire weights and a flat-rate equivalent for common passenger and commercial tires to ease transitions.

Community context: Businesses and residents attending public comment expressed concerns about per‑pound pricing because it may raise costs for operators who already pay for hauling; staff said the county could provide conversion tables (for example, an average passenger tire equivalent) and keep a small flat‑rate option for residents bringing only a few tires.

Next steps: Staff will produce a detailed cost estimate for implementation — including whether additional employees would be required for manual tire weighing and how to treat dumped or mixed loads — and return with numbers for the Aug. 12 meeting. The board did not adopt a new fee on July 22.