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Sanitation contracts and transfer‑station upgrades under review as recycling costs and contractor requests rise
Summary
Public Works staff told the council the city will pursue a contract amendment with its hauler, keep a modest rate increase in the draft budget, and plan design work for a transfer‑station floor replacement; councilors also raised the option of targeted recycling surcharges or opt‑outs.
Lewiston staff informed the City Council on May 30 that sanitation operations are largely contracted, that a transfer‑station floor upgrade is planned, and that the city is negotiating contract amendments with its hauler.
Public Works Director Dustin Johnson said sanitation services are provided under contracts with SDI (collection), DeSoto County Landfill (disposal), and Clearwater (composting). He told the council staff are working with attorneys to draft an amendment to the SDI agreement and will return with a formal proposal this summer. The draft budget includes a roughly 5% rate increase for sanitation as staff monitor contractor cost pressures.
Capital work: staff plan a design for the transfer‑station floor this fiscal year and expect construction in FY27. Johnson described the facility’s floor life and the tradeoffs between higher‑performance concrete additives and overall cost; he said staff will return with updated design costs. The city and Nez Perce County have an interlocal arrangement for the transfer station; Johnson said the county pays an agreed amount and that the city is revisiting that contract.
Recycling and rates: councilors discussed whether recycling should remain a universal, curbside service or become elective (opt‑in) or supported by a separate surcharge. Staff cautioned that making recycling elective would complicate route and equipment planning and could be expensive to change. Johnson noted the market for recyclables collapsed several years ago and later diversified; the packet shows previous community surveys on recycling and a past temporary recycling surcharge. Staff said they will bring the contract amendment and updated rate analysis for council consideration.
Ending: Staff will return with the SDI contract amendment and revised budget figures; design and timing for transfer‑station repairs will be scheduled in FY26–FY27.
