DeSoto Parish adopts new compactor-site schedule despite staff and resident objections

The DeSoto Parish Police Jury voted Nov. 3 to adopt a revised compactor-site schedule that standardizes hours across sites and trims operating periods at lower-volume locations.

The change, adopted in a special meeting and effective no earlier than Jan. 1, 2026, was presented by an administrator who told jurors the schedule is intended to save labor costs at low-tonnage sites while preserving service at higher-volume locations. The administrator said the proposal was based on annual tonnage, truck trips and labor-cost estimates and that changes would not go into effect before 2026 to allow for signage and implementation.

The proposal drew several public objections during the administrative committee session. Bill Riley, who identified himself as a Longstreet compactor-site employee, said part-time staff already lost holiday pay and that cutting hours would strip income from workers and reduce convenience for residents: "Y'all already took away our holiday pay and now y'all want to cut some working hours of those that are already part time," he said. Miss Burrell, a member of the public who spoke during comment, said voters and taxpayers would be harmed and criticized using compactor revenue for other projects.

Officials and some jurors defended the proposal as an efficiency measure. An administrator explained that tipping fees — the excess solid-waste revenues generated by compactor sites and the landfill — currently pay for compactor operations and capital purchases, and that projected reductions in property tax revenue and the loss of a major customer mean the parish must adjust operations to keep all sites open. He said the 5.46-mill rate had been rolled back to 5.0 mills and projected a corresponding revenue shortfall in 2026–27.

The jury considered three alternate schedules and moved to accept Alternate Schedule No. 3, described by staff as the option with the least overall cuts and uniform daily hours across all sites. Jurors noted Alternate 3 increases hours at some larger sites while reducing hours at many smaller sites; staff said part-time employees’ combined annual compactor payroll is in excess of $800,000 and that the changes were meant to keep all 18 sites operating.

The motion to adopt the final schedule passed on a roll-call vote in the special meeting. The administrator said he would have latitude to open specific sites on alternate days to accommodate holidays if needed.

The jury also discussed capital funding needs tied to compactor-site infrastructure, noting the county has purchased compactor units in recent years and plans further replacements. Jurors and members of the public urged transparency about how tipping fees and other excess solid-waste funds are allocated, citing a planned $26 million detention facility and other capital needs that have been partially paid from solid-waste funds.

Next steps: the adopted schedule will be implemented after administrative steps (signage, notice) and will take effect no earlier than Jan. 1, 2026, according to staff.