Haskell County Commission authorizes bids for transfer station lease, raises litter-control concerns

The Haskell County Commission authorized soliciting bids for the county transfer station lease and discussed adding contract language to address litter blowing from hauling trucks.

During consideration of agenda item 8, Speaker 1 moved to put the transfer station lease out for bid; the motion was seconded and carried by recorded affirmative responses. In subsequent discussion commissioners debated lease length — participants referenced four- to five-year terms — and expressed concern about unsecured loads leaving trash along Highway 9.

Speaker 1 described the problem: "It's getting bad. It's blowing out of the truck," and suggested the county should require the lessee to pick up litter periodically or take steps to secure loads more effectively. Another speaker noted that convict crews sometimes perform roadside pickup but expressed concern that the county should not bear additional expense if the operator's contract is priced low.

The commission directed Public Works/staff to include provisions in the request for proposals or the lease that require litter-control measures such as secure-load requirements or periodic pickup (staff discussed "twice a year" as an example). No formal amendment to a final lease was adopted at the meeting; the action recorded was authorization to solicit bids with staff guidance to incorporate litter-control language.

Follow-up tasks assigned in the minutes include drafting RFP/lease language to include secure-load and litter pickup requirements and returning to the commission with the procurement documents for approval. The minutes do not include dollar figures, nor do they record a final lease award or exact contract term selected.