Russell County to assume operation of transfer station after leaseholder surrenders

The Russell County Fiscal Court voted during a called meeting May 30 to assume operation of the county transfer station after the current leaseholder told county officials he would surrender the lease.

County Judge Executive Randy Marcum told the court the transfer station had been closed several times in the past week and the week before. Marcum said he spoke with Mitchell Morgan of Morgan's Sanitation, the station's leaseholder, and that Morgan told him he was "ready to surrender the lease and get out." The court discussed options and "it seemed to be the general consensus the county take over and run it themselves," according to the meeting record.

Magistrate Mickey Garner moved that the county take over operation of the transfer station; Magistrate Larry Skaggs seconded. The motion carried with the court recording that "all were in favor, none opposed." The record does not list individual recorded vote names or a formal roll-call tally beyond that statement.

The meeting record lists officials present as County Judge Executive Randy Marcum; Magistrates Terry Waddell, Mickey Garner, Zach Wilson, Steve Richardson and Larry Skaggs; County Attorney Kevin Shearer; and County Treasurer Kim Blanchet. After the transfer-station motion, Magistrate Terry Waddell moved to adjourn; Zach Wilson seconded and the court adjourned at 11:14 a.m.

The meeting record does not specify a timeline for when the county will formally assume operations, what operational or staffing changes will occur, or whether the county will negotiate compensation or transition terms with Morgan's Sanitation. Those details were not specified in the record.