Valley County presses Lakeshore Disposal over transfer-station management, equipment and contract terms

Valley County commissioners told Lakeshore Disposal representatives at a May 27 workshop they are concerned about the condition and management of the county transfer station and want changes before agreeing to a contract renewal.

The discussion followed the county’s receipt of complaints from Central District Health and multiple constituents about trash piled outside buildings, illegal dumping and missed curbside pickups. Commissioners said the county and taxpayers are investing in the site and expect better site management, while Lakeshore representatives described short-term fixes and options for longer-term changes.

Commissioner (unnamed) opened the session by saying Central District Health had contacted the county about “the conditions of the site” and that commissioners were “not happy” with how it is being managed. The commissioner said the county needs “an explanation of what’s happening and why our site is not being appropriately managed.”

A Lakeshore Disposal representative said the company will bring in temporary staff this week to help clean and manage piles and is planning to hire an additional worker to be stationed at the site. “We will be (hiring) a third position,” the representative said, adding the local hiring market may affect the exact timing.

Commissioners and Lakeshore staff discussed operations problems that they said are driving the condition of the facility: trailers backing up at the tipping floor, trucks breaking down, and high volumes of material that two workers cannot manage. A county official said “people are just dumping willy-nilly because there’s nobody up there to tell them what to do.” Lakeshore said temporary staffing will resolve much of the problem in the short run and that it is also looking to place a piece of equipment that can remain up the hill rather than move back and forth.

The parties described several operational details and near-term steps: - Lakeshore plans to bring temporary staff immediately and is recruiting for an additional permanent worker; the company anticipated the position within about 30 days but said hiring in McCall/Valley County may be slow. - Lakeshore will add staffing and is evaluating an additional loader or excavator to manage material on the hill and to limit dirt entering grinding stockpiles sent to Tamarack. - Contractors will chip and grind stump piles; Lakeshore and county staff described a planned grind in the fall and said stumps will be hauled off when facilities can accept them.

Contract and fee issues were also discussed. Commissioners and Lakeshore representatives identified three negotiable cost items: - The “15%” grinding-related charge that has previously been part of the arrangement; Lakeshore said the grinding pile is a major driver of expense and indicated the fee might be negotiable and could be reduced (company suggested a possible reduction to “5%” as an example). - A separate $3.50-per-ton hauling charge tied to taking material to Lake Peak (described in the workshop as a longstanding handshake arrangement rather than a documented contract term). County officials asked whether that $3.50-per-ton charge could be removed or offset. - The county proposed exploring a franchise-fee model in which a negotiated percentage of transfer-station revenue would be paid to the county and could offset other charges.

Lakeshore said it has been hauling to a facility (referred to in the meeting as Lake Peak) that currently accepts the county’s material but warned the receiving site has limited remaining cell capacity. Gary, identified in the discussion as a landfill director, was asked to provide numbers about remaining capacity and lifespan. Lakeshore also said Tamarack—reported as a buyer of hog fuel—may reject material with excess dirt, increasing the need to control fines in the grinding feedstock.

Commissioners stressed recycling needs and building repairs. They discussed that recycling operations have outgrown the current small processing building, which lacks adequate storage or “stalls” for bales and roll-off containers. One commissioner said the county and Lakeshore should agree on responsibilities for building repairs and possible mutual-aid contributions to fund improvements. Lakeshore said it would be open to working on recycling improvements and storage, and noted that recycling typically does not cover operator costs.

Customer service and curbside pickup problems were raised: commissioners said they have received numerous constituent emails about missed pickups and broken trucks. Lakeshore said some missed service is weather- or road-condition-related, and described a policy of crediting customers when truck failures occur but not always for weather events; both sides discussed clarifying expectations and improving proactive communications to customers.

The parties agreed to continue negotiations. Commissioners said formal contract renewal will be approached with legal review; Lakeshore noted the current contract runs through the end of fiscal year 2026, and heavy negotiations will involve county legal counsel. Commissioners said they want better site management and documented operational responsibilities before agreeing to renew the contract.

The workshop produced no final vote. Commissioners said they will return to formal negotiations and involve legal staff when work on the contract intensifies.