Atchison County discusses solid‑waste rates, NRP caps and social‑media outreach ahead of public workshops

At their Nov. 25 meeting, commissioners emphasized that proposed solid‑waste fees reflect contract costs rather than arbitrary county charges, citing a municipal solid‑waste cost of $50.17 per ton and a recycling cost of about $1.03 per ton. Speaker 1 asked for language clarifying that rate recommendations were based on contract costs and staff calculations rather than the board unilaterally setting rates.

Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) administration and caps featured extended discussion. Speaker 6 recommended distinct caps for residential and commercial/industrial applicants (for example, a lower cap for residential and higher tiers for business/industrial), suggesting the county seek input from townships and the program administrator (Holly) to assess administrative feasibility. Commissioners discussed holding pre‑workshop outreach with township boards so stakeholders arrive prepared and to ensure the program remains administrable if multiple tiers are used.

The board also discussed improving public communications by linking departmental social‑media pages to the county page. Speaker 1 proposed a workshop with chamber participation to coordinate page permissions and automate sharing so department posts appear on the county page, reducing manual reposting and missed notifications. Commissioners noted the need to control permissions and to determine who would serve as administrators.

Next steps: Staff to clarify minutes language about solid‑waste fees, reach out to township boards and Holly for NRP administration input, and schedule a social‑media workshop to streamline county communications ahead of election outreach and program rollouts.