Port Arthur council moves to negotiate industrial-waste cell, orders new RFQ for full landfill after months of debate

Council members in Port Arthur on Tuesday approved a two-part direction on the city landfill after hours of public comment and legal review. The council voted to reaffirm an earlier resolution authorizing the city manager to negotiate a contract limited to the study, design, permitting, construction and operation of a single new cell that would accept waste the city's current permit does not allow. The council also instructed staff to prepare a fresh request for qualifications for firms to study, design, permit and operate the remainder of the landfill.

The action followed an extensive public record. Residents and former city staff questioned whether the solicitation the city issued earlier was limited to a single industrial cell or had been interpreted as an offer to allow an outside firm to operate the entire landfill. Eric Guidry, a Port Arthur resident, told the council he reviewed the city's RFQ language and said it was written to solicit a sale or a cell; he urged the council to reject proposals that would transfer operation without clear protections for ratepayers and employees.

"This firm, as collective organization, does not have the experience to run our entire landfill," Guidry said during public comment, urging council members to…