Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solid Waste topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bonner County approves solid-waste contracts, debates fee-schedule wording
Summary
The board approved metal recycling, household hazardous-waste and wood-grinding contracts and authorized multiple solid-waste carryovers while commissioners pushed staff to correct fee-schedule wording about stickers and whether HHW collection is free only for sticker holders.
Bonner County commissioners approved multiple solid-waste contracts and budget carryovers Nov. 4, while also asking staff to correct wording in a revised fee schedule before public distribution.
Solid Waste Director presented and the board approved: a Pacific Steel & Recycling contract (only bidder) under which the company will pay Bonner County $101 per ton to remove metal at Dickensheet, Colburn and Idaho Hill; a GreyMar contract to collect, transport and dispose of residential household hazardous waste from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026; and a contract with Wood Solutions LLC to grind, transport and dispose of wood waste at $49.50 per ton. The board approved each contract on roll-call votes.
Separately, Solid Waste requested several carryovers: $16,000 for the Colburn culvert project (director said project is completed and the transfer is for final payments) and larger moves of $500,000 (capital improvements), $390,000 (land improvements) and $60,000 (repairs/maintenance) into FY2026. Commissioners approved the carryovers and repeatedly reviewed the draft fee schedule intended to take effect Dec. 1, 2025.
Members of the board pressed staff to remove typographical errors and to make clear whether the “no charge up to 10 gallons per event” for household hazardous waste applies only to residents with a solid-waste sticker. Commissioners also asked that the document clarify the status of replacement stickers and whether the first three cubic yards are included in the annual sticker allowance or only when a sticker is present. The board approved the disposal-fees resolution contingent on Solid Waste confirming the written language matches what was approved in the public hearing and fixing typographical issues.
Commissioners said they favored clear public-facing materials so residents understand the changes and avoid confusion leading to unnecessary calls or complaints.
