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County staff warn possible $25/ton increase in resource recovery tipping fee; Morehead tonnage cited
Summary
County officials presented a draft estimate showing the resource recovery facility’s true operational cost could raise the tipping fee from $56 to about $81 per ton, a change that would increase costs for a high‑volume hauler such as the City of Moorhead by roughly $550,000 at an estimated 22,000 tons.
Clay County officials reported Aug. 19 that a draft cost analysis for the Resource Recovery Center indicates the facility’s operational tipping fee could rise from the current $56 per ton to about $81 per ton if the county were to operate the facility at true cost. The board discussed the estimate during administrative reports; no policy vote was taken.
The county chair explained that the estimate equates to a roughly $25 per ton increase. Using a cited figure of about 22,000 tons (an example the chair used for Moorhead’s deliveries), the chair said that change would represent roughly $550,000 in additional cost to the hauler — an amount the chair described as “not very attractive” and something the county would like to avoid.
County staff emphasized the number represents the cost to fully run operations if Clay County were to assume those responsibilities and that the figure is meant to provide “true numbers” for comparison with the current contract. The chair clarified that the estimate reflects operating costs only and that “nobody’s making any money on that.”
Commissioners said the county will continue evaluating options and reviewing the numbers; follow‑up was expected as staff develops comparisons and contract alternatives for future consideration.
Speakers quoted in this article are drawn from the meeting transcript and are included in the article’s speaker list.
