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Universal curbside trash program moves forward despite homeowner and mobile-park objections
Summary
The board adopted the tentative solid waste budget and the universal curbside assessment; residents from HOAs and mobile-home parks urged exemptions or dumpster alternatives, and staff offered direct-billing dumpster options and a backdoor service accommodation for residents with mobility issues.
The Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt the tentative solid waste budget and to advertise the non ad valorem assessments that will fund a new countywide curbside collection program, despite sustained public objections from homeowners associations, mobile-home park operators and individual residents.
County staff presented the solid waste package, which included a universal curbside collection assessment (presented by staff as $181.70 per parcel) and related unit charges for residential waste generation. The solid waste budget the board approved for advertisement was $42,047,435.
Public comment: Several owners and managers of mobile-home communities and HOAs said the county's universal approach burdens low-income residents and parcels that already contract privately for collection. High Ridge Mobile Park's owner said his small park has historically paid a single flat fee (currently much lower than the assessed amount) and that a new assessment would force him to raise rents or shift costs to low-income tenants. Residents and HOA representatives asked for exemptions or an accommodation allowing continued dumpster service with direct billing by the private vendor.
Solid waste staff response: Himanshu Mehta, managing director for the solid waste district, told the board that in some cases waste management can shift a parcel to a dumpster/direct-billing arrangement rather than place the parcel on the county's assessment roll; staff said they would work individually with properties such as mobile parks and certain multifamily clusters to evaluate dumpster options and direct billing, and that there is a short window (before the tax-roll/TRIM deadlines) to make those changes.
Other public concerns: Several residents who routinely use convenience centers or who live on large rural parcels said universal curbside service duplicates services they already have and imposes assessment costs on people who rely on drop-off centers or produce minimal waste. County staff said the convenience centers remain in place and reminded residents that some previous services (recycling) have historically been supported through the property tax roll.
Board action and staff direction: The commission approved the tentative solid waste budget and related assessments for advertisement, with a recorded objection from one commissioner on policy grounds. Commissioners and staff agreed to continued outreach to affected parks and HOAs, to consider dumpster-based alternatives with direct billing where feasible, and to offer backdoor/assisted pickup for residents with verified medical limitations.
Ending: Staff said carts are being delivered this month and that residents should expect follow-up communications; the county reiterated that the advertised assessments are tentative and that final adjustments can be made before the Sept. 25 final budget adoption if alternative arrangements are agreed with the vendor and property owners.
