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Dooly County edges toward privatized commercial garbage service as Advanced Disposal deal advances
Summary
After months of negotiations and competing options, the Dooly County commission moved toward contracting commercial waste service with Advanced Disposal. The company proposed buying county equipment and providing collection for a lower charge than county operations; the contract decisions split the board.
The Dooly County Board of Commissioners debated commercial solid‑waste service through spring and summer 2012 before taking decisive action.
Background and offers: In early April Advanced Disposal presented rate adjustments on residential service indexed to CPI and raised a proposal for commercial service: purchase the county's front‑end loader truck and dumpsters and take over commercial routes. Advanced Disposal offered to buy the county's front‑end loader for $85,000 and the dumpsters for $28,000 and to price the county's commercial service at an annual cost the company calculated to be below the county's existing in‑house expense.
County response and procurement: Commissioners debated whether to keep commercial collection in‑house or transfer it to Advanced Disposal. On July 12 the board instructed county and company attorneys to negotiate the contract details. After attorneys worked out terms and the county evaluated trade‑in and staffing options, on Aug. 2 the board voted 3'0yes to 2'no to accept Advanced Disposal's proposal; two commissioners opposed and the decision was contentious.
Why it matters: The decision affects county staffing, revenue from commercial billing (which the county historically performed) and the county's vehicle fleet. Advanced Disposal's proposal included employment offers for existing sanitation staff and a purchase price for county assets, while the county considered the cost of replacing equipment and maintaining in‑house service.
Next steps: The board authorized both attorneys to finalize contract language and instructed staff to attain required approvals. Commissioners also requested financial comparisons and RFP responses for new trucks earlier in the process; the county retained the option to request proposals if the contract terms proved unfavorable.
Speakers on the record included Advanced Disposal General Manager Adam Cochran and Vice Chairman Charles Anderson; motions and votes were recorded in the minutes.
