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Commission approves $225,000 amendment for solid waste convenience center after debate over rock, fencing and bids
Summary
The commission amended and approved a budget transfer of $225,000 to the solid waste fund for construction work on a new convenience center after lengthy discussion about estimated stone, fence and gate costs and procurement timing.
The Hawkins County Board of Commissioners approved a budget amendment on Jan. 27 to transfer $225,000 into the Solid Waste construction account to fund early work on a new convenience center. The vote on the amended figure was 12 yes, 1 no, 1 abstain.
Commissioners spent about an hour debating whether to appropriate $250,000 as originally proposed or reduce the appropriation to $225,000 on grounds of fiscal conservatism and updated price information. The budget committee recommended the lower figure after members said updated quotes for stone and hauling had come in lower than initial estimates.
County leaders and staff gave multiple, sometimes conflicting, price estimates during the discussion. County Mayor Mark DeWitt reviewed the Solid Waste Committee meeting notes and told commissioners he calculated that acquiring the estimated 13,000 tons of rock would cost about $247,000 at a low per-ton quote cited in the committee discussion. “At a minimum, we've gotta get to 02:25 through today because we need to start work,” DeWitt said, arguing the commission must appropriate funds now so work and permits can proceed.
Budget-committee members countered that their reduction to $225,000 built in a cushion, relying on more recent county purchasing figures. Commissioner Trent and others said the county's highway superintendent had reported paying roughly $19 per ton for rock, and the committee increased that internal estimate somewhat to preserve prudence while still reducing the total appropriation.
Officials described the project breaking into multiple contracts: site grading and earthwork, fencing and gates, and stone purchase and placement. County staff said the engineer, Joe Perry, had produced a cost estimate; one speaker told the commission a county-provided sheet listed bulk stone at about $40.88 per ton and that the engineer's parking-lot stone estimate was roughly $66,000. Commissioners noted that excavation results and site-specific conditions could materially change final costs.
The commission first voted 11 yes, 2 no, 1 abstain to approve the amendment to $225,000, then later approved the amended resolution as a whole 12 yes, 1 no, 1 abstain. The record shows the county will split the construction work into multiple bids once money is formally appropriated, because state procurement rules require funds be committed before public bidding.
The resolution directs county staff to proceed with the planning and to advertise bids for scope elements once the appropriation is in place. Commissioners also asked staff to seek competitive quotes for stone and fencing and to return with updates if site drilling or other geotechnical work shows higher costs.
