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Allegany County staff propose closing Marshall mulch site to save $75,000; alternatives said to exist
Summary
Public works recommended closing the unstaffed Marshall (Mexico Farms) mulch site to save an estimated $75,000 in FY26; staff said contractors and an upcoming Nexus operation may accept yard waste and that the county plans outreach before finalizing closure.
County public works staff told commissioners the Marshall mulch site in the Mexico Farms industrial park is full, largely unmanned and costly to maintain, and recommended closing it to achieve at least $75,000 in savings for the next fiscal year.
“We can save, at least $75,000 by closing the mulch site,” staff said, citing a review of recycling and solid waste budgets. The county said the site operates dawn to dusk without attendants and that commercial contractors frequently leave debris there, increasing grinding needs.
Staff outlined a transition plan: schedule a grinder after Memorial Day to process accumulated material, haul grindings off-site, and close the site. Staff asked commissioners for permission to proceed with that plan and to publicize alternatives for residents. The county noted that Datsons Construction (listed in staff remarks as an alternate acceptor of yard trimmings) has been accepting materials free of charge and that Nexus — a future operation expected in roughly a year — may take material when it becomes operational.
Commissioners asked staff to confirm alternatives and to publicize any drop-off addresses. Staff said they would verify that local contractors are willing to accept additional material and would report back before the county finalizes closure; no formal vote to close the site was recorded at the meeting. Staff said they have not included keeping the site open in the FY26 budget as presented.
