Meeker County OKs increase to solid waste and demolition tip fees

Meeker County commissioners voted June 3 to raise the county’s solid waste and demolition tip fees after county staff said Waste Management notified them of an impending increase.

Greg Schultz, Meeker County land use director, told commissioners that Waste Management notified the county that, effective June 1, it would raise tip fees by $1.91 per ton. Schultz recommended the county raise its rates to keep a margin over Waste Management’s fees. “We were notified by Waste Management they’re gonna increase our tip fees as of June 1, increasing them by a dollar 91 a ton,” Schultz said. He proposed raising the county’s mixed solid waste tip fee and increasing demolition and out-of-county rates to stay ahead of projected costs.

Commissioner Oberg moved to set the mixed solid waste tip fee at $89.50 per ton, to raise the in-county demolition tip fee to $49 per ton, and to set the out-of-county demolition tip fee at $80 per ton. Commissioner Van Ort seconded the motion. On a voice vote the chair announced the motion carried.

The board’s packet and discussion referenced a pattern of adjusting county fees after Waste Management’s prior increases; Schultz reminded the board that last fall the county increased tip fees by $2 to remain ahead of Waste Management, and that the county was previously ahead by about 50 cents per ton.

The board did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript; the motion was adopted by voice vote. The county did not state any immediate implementation date in the recorded discussion beyond the staff note about Waste Management’s June 1 increase.

The board thanked Schultz for the presentation and moved on to subsequent agenda items.