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Commission hears Solid Waste report as staff describe enforcement headaches, a shove incident and proposals to reduce confrontations
Summary
Solid Waste staff reported monthly landfill and recycling figures and recounted on-site confrontations — including an operator allegedly shoved during a dispute — prompting the board to discuss cameras, gate procedures, tag recording and referral to law enforcement. The Solid Waste report was approved by voice vote.
Wilson County commissioners accepted the Solid Waste report after a lengthy discussion about convenience-center enforcement, tipping-fee revenue and staff safety.
Andy (Solid Waste operator) reported monthly landfill and recycling figures, including reported landfill intake ("I took in 793 tons") and recycling tonnage (reported as 302 tons) with revenue figures he said were down from the prior year. Andy said year-to-date tipping fees were up modestly, but a large customer’s volume decline (Rockwood) will require further analysis to understand budget impacts.
Several board members and staff spent significant time on customer interactions at convenience centers. Speaker 2 described a post-Thanksgiving visit where customers were turned away and urged staff to accept small holiday loads to avoid long lines and confrontations. He also said an operator had been shoved during a dispute over allowable items and that the operator’s side of the incident had not been fully captured in the earlier report.
"If somebody puts your hands on you, you have a right to defend yourself," Speaker 2 said while urging better incident reporting and protection for employees. Andy recounted calling the sheriff for an earlier incident and praised a Wilson County deputy who obtained a tag number and followed up at the suspect’s residence: "That officer did a good job," Andy said.
Board members discussed practical enforcement steps: leave clear limits set by the board, inform customers at the gate, record vehicle tag numbers for repeat or egregious violations, and refer violent or threatening incidents to law enforcement rather than forcing staff to intervene physically. The chair suggested cameras to document violations but noted internet and connectivity limitations at some sites.
A motion to approve the Solid Waste report was made and adopted by voice vote. Board members asked staff to analyze revenue impacts from a large customer’s reduced volume and to return with options to increase revenue or reduce expense pressure.
Next steps: finance staff will analyze the Rockwood volume change and the Solid Waste team will continue exploring outreach, enforcement and safety measures for convenience centers.
