Sandoval County adopts phased landfill rate increases, commercial volume discounts; approves bonds, EMS contract and hospital advisory appointment

Sandoval County commissioners on Sept. 10 voted to raise several landfill fees on a phased schedule, adopt a commercial volume-discount program to attract larger haulers, approve two postponed bond issues and authorize several contracts and appointments at the county commission chambers in Bernalillo.

The commissioners adopted Resolution 9-10-25 to adjust landfill rates effective July 1, 2026, and July 1, 2027, and separately approved a volume-discount schedule meant to increase daily tonnage at the county landfill. County Public Works Director Mark Hatzenbuehler said the changes are intended to allow the county to "slowly reach the required rates to operate and to develop the solid waste landfill and provide ample notice to customers for these changes." He walked commissioners through line-item increases, including a $1 per-ton step increment on certain disposal categories and modest rises for specialty disposal, mattresses and tires.

"So per bag, 30 gallons or less, it's currently $1. We're not gonna raise that price because per bag, it'll still be a dollar for the next 2 years," Hatzenbuehler said while summarizing the schedule for residents and commercial customers. He told the board commercial haulers' per-ton rates would move roughly in $1 steps to follow a previously completed seven-year study.

The commission also approved a separate resolution to offer tiered monthly volume discounts for commercial customers; Hatzenbuehler said the discounts apply to the total monthly tonnage a hauler brings in and are meant to boost daily throughput toward a target of roughly 1,100 tons per day.

Commissioners asked for additional operational briefings before the new rates take effect. Commissioner Brook and others pressed county staff to present findings from two recently issued Requests for Proposals — one for operations and one for engineering — and to bring the selected consultants to a future meeting. Commissioners also raised site-safety concerns for public visitors and asked about staffing for spotters and a pending deputy director hire in Public Works.

In separate business the board approved two bond resolutions the voters previously authorized in November 2024 but that the county delayed issuing for a year. Bond counsel Rob Burpo told the commission delaying the sales saved an estimated $1,187,000 in interest. The commission approved: an application and resolution to sell up to $7.5 million for a new animal shelter, and an application and resolution to sell up to $5 million for construction and equipment related to a telecommunications tower.

The board unanimously approved an appointment to the Sandoval Regional Medical Center advisory board. Commissioner Jones nominated Dr. Miriam Campos Marchetti, director of health and human services for the Pueblo of Santa Ana. Dr. Campos Marchetti said she was "deeply honored" to be considered and noted her public-health experience working with tribal communities and rural populations.

The commission authorized a professional services agreement with Andes Pueblo EMS for emergency medical response countywide (budgeted in the agreement at $125,000) and approved a renewal of a grant-supported contract with the New Mexico Primary Care Association to assist with Medicaid application services for the county health division (the county's health director described the renewal as an increase of roughly $25,000 from the prior fiscal year). Public-health staff also told commissioners the county has roughly $200,000 budgeted this fiscal year for a spay-and-neuter clinic program and about $160,000 remaining after current commitments.

Votes at a glance

- Agenda approval — motion and second; roll call recorded unanimous approval. - Resolution 9-10-25 (landfill rate schedule effective 07/01/2026 and 07/01/2027) — adopted (unanimous). - Resolution 9-10-25-11b (commercial volume discounts for landfill customers) — adopted (unanimous). - Deferral of property tax rate finalization to Sept. 24, 2025 — approved (unanimous). - Bond application: up to $7,500,000 for a new animal shelter (application to New Mexico Finance Authority) — adopted (unanimous). - Bond application: up to $5,000,000 for a telecommunications tower (application to New Mexico Finance Authority) — adopted (unanimous). - Appointment: Dr. Miriam Campos Marchetti to the Sandoval Regional Medical Center Board of Advisors — approved (unanimous). - Professional services agreement: Andes Pueblo EMS — authorized (unanimous); contract amount budgeted at $125,000. - Grant renewal: New Mexico Primary Care Association (Medicaid application assistance) — approved (unanimous).

Why it matters

The landfill rate changes and commercial discounts are designed to increase volume and help the county manage landfill airspace while moving toward a new landfill site. The bond approvals authorize the county to seek financing, via the New Mexico Finance Authority, for an animal shelter and a telecommunications tower that voters approved in 2024 but that the county delayed issuing to save interest expense. The EMS contract and the Medicaid-application grant affect emergency medical coverage and health services coordination for county residents.

What’s next

County staff said they plan to return with presentations from consultants working on landfill operations and engineering before the rate schedule takes full effect. The commission set a follow-up meeting on tax rates for Sept. 24, 2025, to finalize property-tax certificates after the Department of Finance Administration provides corrected information.

Ending: Commissioners closed the meeting after routine consent items and additional public notices; several commissioners also offered brief personal remarks about current events near the meeting's end.