The Saint Clair County Board of Commissioners voted July 17 to internalize operations at the county landfill, approve related equipment purchases and update the landfill staffing table, a move county officials and some commissioners said is intended to address rising costs and falling revenues.
Why it matters: The landfill is a major county service and revenue source. The move shifts operational control and cost risk from private contractors back to county management and will affect tipping fees, county budgets and nearby communities that host or are adjacent to the landfill.
What the board approved
The commission moved to internalize landfill operations and approved required equipment purchases and additions to the manning table, including two full-time operations coordinators and one full-time landfill attendant, while eliminating one part-time attendant. Commissioners voted in favor after debate about costs, profitability and environmental oversight.
County staff and commissioners described the decision as a response to higher bid prices from private contractors and to a recent drop in landfill revenue. Administration staff presented an analysis comparing internal operation costs with bids; one commissioner said private bids ranged “between 2.9 and just over 5,000,000” (dollars) while a previous contract was approximately $1.415 million. Commissioners also noted the county faces a consent agreement, ongoing class-action litigation and the need for consultant review; the motion passed with a roll-call vote in favor.
Debate and concerns
Commissioners and members of the public expressed conflicting views about expanding government operations versus contracting out. Commissioner Vanden Bosch and others questioned why the county should expand landfill operations; other commissioners said keeping control could yield lower costs for residents and stronger environmental oversight than a private operator.
Commissioner comments included: the county should maintain control to offer “a better cost for the residents of Saint Clair County” and that an additional roughly $12 per ton could bring the operation to breakeven. Another commissioner said mistakes at the landfill had generated extra costs that must be borne by the county and emphasized the priority of preventing further pollution to nearby communities.
Consent agreement and operational follow-up
Officials said the internalization includes tasks required by a consent agreement; the administration proposed clerical and operations positions to reduce reliance on higher-cost outside consultants. Commissioners approved hiring a consultant to review the landfill’s long-term direction, and staff said the court-related class-action suit and the consent agreement will shape next steps.
Implementation details
Administration said internalization will require equipment purchases and changes to the manning table; the motion authorized those purchases and personnel changes and directed staff to pursue cost-control steps including reviewing tipping fees and replacing certain contracted functions with in-house staff. Commissioners instructed administration and finance staff to model tipping-fee scenarios and breakeven points.
Speakers included county commissioners, the county administrator and members of the public who live near the landfill. The motion carried by voice vote.