Fallon County commissioners voted to accept a $42,030 quote to shred tires and approved a suggested 10-year landfill price schedule that includes a new $75-per-ton charge for concrete and a change to waive fees for tree-branch loads brought to the landfill by Fallon County residents.

The commission discussed whether commercial tree haulers should be allowed to use the county’s free container sites and decided to allow residents and commercial haulers to take branch loads to the landfill for free while discouraging dumping at the container site. Commissioners directed staff to implement the revised rates effective July 1 and told landfill staff to be notified so the changes could begin promptly.

Why it matters: the vote sets solid-waste fees and an operational contract that affects county disposal costs, contractor business practices, and residents’ options for disposing of large vegetative debris.

Commissioners discussed the cost and use of shredding versus owning and maintaining equipment. They noted past estimates showed buying a shredder exceeded $500,000; the county expects the $42,030 contractor quote will avoid maintenance and infrequent-use costs tied to owning equipment. Commissioners also observed that shredded rubber product demand depends on tire construction (nylon vs. steel-belt tires) and may not be widely reused locally.

Discussion and amendments: the original rate proposal included removing a fee for branch loads brought to the container site for residents, but commissioners clarified the change should apply to the landfill instead (the container site already had no fee for residents). The commission resolved that residents of Fallon County may bring tree-branch loads to the landfill without charge; commercial haulers are expected to take loads to the landfill, not the container site. Commissioners said they will monitor the policy and revisit it after the summer to see whether further limits or charges are needed for large commercial operations.

Formal actions: the commission moved and seconded approval of the tire-shredding quote and the amended 10-year landfill rates; both motions were approved by voice vote. The commission also discussed implementation timing and directed staff to put the new rates into the next budget year, with an operational effective date of July 1.

What’s next: commissioners asked landfill staff to implement the changes and agreed to review how the policy affects container-site use and landfill volume at the end of summer.