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Solid-waste director outlines truck replacement plan, proposes commercial credit-card surcharge
Summary
The county’s solid-waste director told commissioners the department needs a replacement garbage truck, outlined fleet status and proposed a 30% credit-card fee for commercial customers to recoup 2024 card-processing costs of $33,159.35; commissioners asked staff to return with details at a future meeting.
Jackson County’s solid-waste director on Jan. 27 briefed commissioners on fleet needs, auction plans for surplus equipment and a proposal to add a credit-card fee for commercial customers.
The director said three collection trucks no longer have warranty coverage and that one of the three is currently in active duty while two serve as backups. The department reported nine trucks in the fleet (including two front-loader trucks and roll-off trucks) with two backups. The director recommended buying a specific chassis that matched specifications used by Madison County; the vendor had secured the chassis and, on approval, the county expected the vehicle to be outfitted and delivered around August. The director said the county currently has cash on hand to purchase the truck and that proceeds from selling an older truck would offset part of the cost.
On payment processing, the solid-waste director said the department’s credit-card fees for calendar year 2024 totaled $33,159.35 and proposed implementing a 30% credit-card surcharge for commercial customers who pay for front-load dumpster or roll-off services to recoup those costs. The director said the department’s current billing system (Trash Flow) does not allow an automated surcharge and that the fee would have to be added manually for commercial transactions. Commissioners asked for additional detail and asked to place the proposal on the next meeting agenda.
Separately, county staff and an auction representative (Jay Wood) reviewed plans to surplus and auction old equipment. Proposed auction dates were March 18–20 with a backup window of June 10–12; items would be listed with a guaranteed minimum price plus commission. Staff said proceeds would go back to the county’s equipment-replacement budget and that replacement units had already been ordered and were arriving.
Why it matters: Fleet reliability affects the county’s ability to provide uninterrupted waste collection service. The proposed commercial surcharge would shift credit-card processing costs to commercial customers, change billing practice and require additional administrative handling.
Next steps: Commissioners asked staff to return with cost-breakdowns and ordinance or policy language as needed at a future meeting before any fee or purchase is finalized.
