Warren County details solid‑waste consolidation, approves new CDL driver position and updates food‑scrap pilot

County solid-waste staff told the committee that the first two months of in‑house hauling revealed unexpected operational needs — notably container repair workload, staff capacity in summer, and equipment availability — and recommended adding a full‑time, commercial‑driver‑license (CDL) driver to maintain service levels during peak months.

Scott (Solid Waste staff) and Kevin (solid-waste program staff) said drivers now report container damage with every pickup, increasing the need for preventative maintenance and repair. The board heard that some repairs require welding or onsite work to restore doors and structural supports; staff noted one worker who normally performs repairs is out with a knee operation, which reduces in‑house repair capacity. To ensure continuity during summer demand, staff proposed hiring an additional full‑time CDL driver rather than relying solely on rotating part‑time, retired or seasonal drivers.

Staff presented simple cost estimates: including fringe benefits, adding the position would raise the department’s per‑mile hauling cost to about $3.50 per mile under 2026 projections, up from $2.76 per mile under current staffing assumptions. Even with that increase, staff said most municipal runs would still yield savings compared with 2024 private‑hauler rates for the county overall; one route (the Luzerne Road recyclables run) was forecast to increase compared with the 2024 rate because of distance to the new recycler.

Supervisors raised logistical questions. Supervisor Strainer asked whether the new hire would need a CDL (staff confirmed yes) and about starting salary; staff named a starting annual salary of $48,826. Supervisors suggested exploring rotating part‑time CDL drivers as a mitigation option, but staff said part‑time arrangements may not provide sufficient reliability during summer peaks and would not provide benefits that help with retention.

The board approved creating the additional position at the meeting (voice vote recorded on the transcript). Supervisors and staff also discussed related operational actions: a transfer‑station‑operator meeting is scheduled for March 11 to coordinate best practices (snow removal on containers, safe movement) and to standardize roles and responsibilities among stations; staff will gather and analyze container‑condition and tonnage data by town to improve efficiency. Staff described the expected summer workload (example: 27 runs per month from Bolton in peak months) and confirmed hauls are being delivered to a mix of facilities (a Fort Ann recycler for recyclables, a burn plant for solid waste, and a Green Ridge facility for construction and demolition debris).

On the food‑scrap pilot, staff said the county received notification of award but has not yet received an executed contract. The pilot is planned as a drop‑off program sized for about 2–3 tons per week of food scraps: staff estimate an average household generates roughly 8 pounds of food scrap per week, so an appropriately scaled pilot might enroll a few hundred households plus limited business participants. Staff identified potential drop‑off locations under consideration: Queensbury transfer station, Lake George, Bolton, Warrensburg and SUNY Adirondack; the county intends to use a county‑owned rack truck to collect and consolidate materials. Staff emphasized education and outreach are critical to prevent contamination; one piece of equipment for the pilot (a trommel screener) has an estimated eight‑week lead time once ordered.

The committee discussed equipment failure contingencies, possible term agreements for mobile welders or repair contractors, and the need to monitor avoided‑costs (the savings the county secures by reducing provider rate increases). Staff said they will return with additional data and with any needed procurement actions.