Screven County commissioners defend five‑year trash contract while weighing loader proposal and Jenkins County waste

Screven County commissioners on June 3 reviewed the county’s collection and disposal contracts with Allgreen Services, LLC and discussed a proposal to have the contractor operate the transfer‑station loader and accept municipal solid waste from Jenkins County.

County Attorney Hubert Reeves read the contract terms aloud and said his legal opinion is that the collection and disposal agreement is “five (5) annually renewable terms from the start date of October 1, 2019 and expiring June 30, 2024,” a term he said binds the county unless both parties agree to an extension. Reeves also described the transportation agreement as a one‑year, renewable contract and said it renews annually unless the county gives 30 days’ notice not to renew.

The exchange drew questions from Commissioner Allison Willis, who pressed whether the county followed its local purchasing rules for contracts over $500 and asked whether the minutes recorded a formal decision not to bid. Reeves said the board had voted to approve the contract and that the board had determined the bidding process was impractical. Commissioner Willis said the minutes do not reflect that decision and said she was concerned the county did not follow its local bidding procedures.

The discussion turned to operational and cost questions after Commissioner John O. Triplett asked Sam Sullivan of Allgreen Services to describe current operations. Sullivan said the company has kept rates steady “over the years” and outlined a proposal in which Allgreen would run the transfer‑station loader and accept about 4,800 tons of Jenkins County municipal solid waste—an arrangement he said could save Screven County money by increasing throughput at the transfer station.

Several commissioners and staff pushed back on the savings claim as dependent on operational realities. Commissioners discussed the county’s reduced number of dumpster sites after consolidation, higher customer fees tied to the creation of Special Services Districts, and chronic loader limitations that prevent trucks from being packed to capacity. Commissioner Triplett and staff reviewed sanitation department budget figures from recent years and said revenue shortfalls and loader inefficiencies have raised per‑ton costs.

Public attendees urged the board to open future work to local bidders. Resident Ralph Evans said the county should give local contractors the opportunity to bid “to keep our tax dollars local,” and other residents and small contractors asked for a clear scope of work so they could submit bids. Commissioner Triplett said he is drafting a consolidated bid package and expects to solicit proposals for specific operations, such as loader services, while the county continues operating the transfer station.

Questions also surfaced about a contract reassignment. Attendee Marti Walker asked whether Atlantic Waste Inc. had purchased Allgreen Services and why citizens were not consulted. County Attorney Reeves said the board had previously approved reassignment of the contracts to Atlantic Waste in open session; the transcript does not specify when that vote occurred.

No formal changes to the Allgreen contracts or immediate new contracts were adopted at the workshop. The board unanimously approved the meeting agenda at the start of the session; beyond that, commissioners discussed options and next steps, and Commissioner Triplett said he was preparing a bid scope for future solicitations.

The workshop closed with members and residents agreeing to continue analysis of costs, equipment needs and procurement options. The board did not take a formal vote on rescinding or amending the Allgreen agreements during the June 3 meeting.