Brown County commissioners reject landfill building bids, direct staff to draft new specs and funding plan

Brown County commissioners voted to reject the current round of bids for a proposed landfill and solid-waste facility and directed county staff to produce new bid specifications and a funding plan.

The vote followed a detailed presentation from the county’s solid-waste staff proposing a smaller new building — described in the meeting as roughly 30-by-40 feet — to be placed immediately south of the existing shop. The staff recommended leaving the old building in place for workshop use and adding a new overhead door at the north end of the existing bay rather than trying to fully refurbish the aging structure.

The solid-waste presenter said the approach would produce new above-grade office space, an insulated chemical-storage bay for noxious-weed chemicals, and “save the county some money” relative to extensive repairs of the old building. Commissioners and staff asked contractors’ practical questions about roof tie-in, clearance from the scale, and whether the buildings would be separate structures with minimal gap between them.

Commission discussion focused on cost allocation and fairness between county operations. One commissioner asked whether the landfill fund — paid for in part by users — should cover a share of the building cost because not all county taxpayers use the landfill. Staff said those technicalities would be part of the funding review.

On the motions, the commission first approved a motion to reject the current bids. The board then voted to direct landfill and noxious-weed staff to draft a new specification package for a new building and to prepare accompanying information on where financing would come from. County finance staff (identified in the meeting as “Mr. Pounds”) agreed to include funding options when the spec package is brought back to the board.

Commissioners also discussed other operational matters raised by the solid-waste director: the need to advertise and fill a recently vacated part-time scale operator position, the possibility of adjusting landfill fees, and the poor condition of the existing building.

The board’s instructions included: reject the existing bids, prepare new specs for a 30-by-40 structure adjacent to the existing shop, add one new overhead door at the north end of the existing bay so the old shop can remain a workshop, and have staff return with cost and funding options.

The vote to reject the bids and the subsequent motion to develop new specifications and funding details carried with all commissioners present voting in favor.

County staff said they will prepare the specification packet and a funding summary for a future meeting; the commission requested the packet include which funds or departmental contributions could be used to finance construction and whether fee changes at the landfill would be needed.

Ending: The commissioners did not set a construction timeline; staff will return with draft specifications and a financing plan for board review before any new solicitation.