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Landfill manager proposes cameras, kiosks and delays hiring third scale‑house worker pending automation
Summary
Landfill manager Dylan Evans described plans to automate parts of the scale house using kiosks and overhead cameras, and county officials suggested delaying hiring a new full‑time scale‑house worker until system use and billing data are clearer.
Dylan Evans, landfill manager for Bannock County, told commissioners on July 28 that new scale houses planned at the county landfill could be automated to handle many commercial transactions and improve load inspections, potentially reducing the immediate need for a third full‑time scale‑house employee.
Evans said roughly 40% of landfill transactions—commercial accounts with routable truck IDs—could be automated through a kiosk and batch processing, allowing those customers to weigh in and depart without a staff attendant. He told the board he wants to include overhead cameras in the new scale‑house design so staff can visually inspect loads remotely. "I do wanna incorporate with the new scale houses to have overhead camera to look in," Evans said. "That's one thing that I do wanna incorporate with the new scale houses to have overhead camera to look in." He added that a camera feed could be monitored from the office and help catch obvious contamination up front.
Evans estimated the cost of the additional scales and kiosks at roughly $300,000–$400,000; much of the project cost is for the scales themselves. He said commercial accounts that can be routed through the system would be able to print their own tickets at a kiosk and depart, while most other customers would still require load inspection.
Commissioners asked whether the automation would reduce staffing needs. One commissioner told the board, "I think we're a year early in on an employee," and recommended the county allow time to implement new scale technology and monitor usage before adding a full‑time position. Evans confirmed remote inspection and a card‑only outbound lane are feasible design options but said the project as currently budgeted did not include money for an additional scale and kiosk on the outbound lane.
No formal hiring decision or vote was recorded during the presentation. Evans said he is interested in pursuing overhead cameras and other automation that could improve safety and efficiency; commissioners asked staff to consider timing and funding while balancing current employee wage adjustments and other county priorities.
