Hooper staff brief council on county transfer‑station contract, recommend pricing comparison before committing

Hooper City staff told the council at a Nov. 6 work session that the county transfer station has asked member cities to consider a five‑year interlocal agreement to keep the facility financially viable. The station currently provides household services including mattress and tire drop‑offs, Saturday hours and hazardous/toxic waste collection; staff warned those services could be reduced if the city shifted to private transfer stations.

The interlocal agreement on file is a two‑year contract that can be renewed; staff said the county is concerned that six months’ notice is insufficient to plan for lost customers and revenue. "They would like us to do a 5 year contract," staff said during the meeting. The current contract is set to expire in December 2025, and county staff asked for earlier notice if Hooper plans to leave the enterprise.

Staff provided staffing and usage figures to illustrate demand: the packet reported 4,510 resident uses in 2024 and a projection of 4,698 for the current year. Staff said a private company recently offered service at about $48–$50 per ton but would apply use restrictions; staff cautioned that lower per‑ton pricing from a private operator could come with fewer services for residents.

City staff recommended council members review the county proposal, compare pricing and service lists from private providers, and revisit the item in December with a fuller packet including attendance/usage reports and pricing comparisons. No motion or vote took place; staff framed the item as informational and asked for direction on whether staff should include the interlocal agreement on the December council agenda.

Next steps: staff will collect comparative pricing and additional service details and present them at the December meeting so the council can decide whether to sign a longer interlocal agreement or pursue private alternatives.