Tulsa-area solid waste board hears January finance report, vendor procurement timeline and recycling voucher use

The Tulsa-area solid waste board received its January 2025 financial management report, a presentation on an upcoming residential collection procurement and an update on recycling and voucher programs during a meeting this month.

Colvert Portugal, who said he was presenting on behalf of Katie Mays, reported that as of Jan. 31, 2025 the appropriated fund balance was $7,200,000 and year-to-date revenues were $23,278,000. Portugal said actual revenues were about 62.7 percent of the annual total compared with a year-to-date estimate of 57.92 percent. He said encumbrances were reported at about $15,500,000 and that year-to-date expenditures were materially above the estimate.

The finance report gave board members a current snapshot ahead of work on a procurement and contract cycle that could affect service delivery and equipment purchases later this year.

Scott Pasternak, a principal with engineering and consulting firm Burns & McDonnell, briefed the board on his firm's role as technical advisor for a planned procurement of residential solid-waste and recycling services. Pasternak said the consultant team is evaluating the current service model, will develop procurement documents and expects to release an RFP in the spring.

"The goal would be to hopefully award the contract by October this year so that we can provide your contractor with about 12 months to be able to do everything that needs to be done," Pasternak told the board, describing transition time needed for technology work and vehicle procurement.

Pasternak said vendor interviews were scheduled, that the firm had formed a project advisory group of city staff and board members, and that consultants would provide technical and financial evaluations of proposals once they arrive. He emphasized the need for timely internal review to keep the compressed schedule on track.

On recycling and public outreach, board staff reported continued classroom education and new partnerships to reach adults, and provided details on a voucher program that allows member governments to buy drop-off vouchers for their residents.

"For this fiscal year, we've issued 375 vouchers," said the presenter, noting that the vouchers let residents of participating municipalities bring up to 45 pounds of material to the household pollutant collection facility at no charge to the citizen. He said Broken Arrow had used 66 vouchers, Owasso 63 and Jenks 51. The presenter added that, when vendors charge for TV recycling, the board passes that charge through to citizens; the current per‑TV fee is $26.

The meeting also reviewed the schedule of countywide "hard-to-recycle" events — including a large spring clean at the Tulsa County Fairgrounds and a series of town events through May — and thanked partner organizations that provide roll-offs, volunteers and funding assistance.

No formal procurement award or contract decision was made at the meeting; consultants will return with draft procurement documents and evaluations as the RFP process proceeds.

The board discussed next steps and a timeline for document reviews and vendor engagement, stressing that supply-chain timelines for trucks and other equipment make the October award and year-long transition window important to keep.

Ending: Board staff and Burns & McDonnell said they would circulate draft documents and convene advisory meetings in the coming weeks; no formal votes on the procurement plan were recorded at this meeting.