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Countrywide owner Rachel to sell company; Waste Management will assume East Grand Forks residential refuse contract
Summary
City staff asked the council to sign a consent‑to‑assignment so Waste Management can take over Countrywide Sanitation's residential refuse contract around Sept. 1; officials said service, trucks and many employees should remain unchanged and the current contract runs through 2029.
Countrywide Sanitation’s owner Rachel told the East Grand Forks City Council on July 22 that she has agreed to sell the company to Waste Management and expects the transfer to take effect around Sept. 1. Council members were asked to approve a consent‑to‑assignment document that would allow Waste Management to step into Countrywide’s existing residential refuse contract.
"I am stepping away — I’m not stepping away entirely," Rachel said, adding that she will continue to run landfill operations and the roll‑off hauling business. "We will continue to manage the sanitation business ... until the expected closing date of September 1." Shortall introduced the item and said the transfer should be seamless.
Randy Ott of Waste Management said residents should see little change at the outset: "It's going to be the same driver, it's going to be the same truck, same service days. We are not seeing any change needed at this time," he said, and added that Waste Management plans to follow the existing contract with Countrywide.
Councilors noted Countrywide has served East Grand Forks since 2014. One council member asked whether the contract extends through 2029; a staff speaker confirmed that it does. Officials said the phone number for service requests and complaints will remain the same, that many current employees are expected to continue, and that the city would ask the council to sign the consent document to formalize the transfer.
No formal council vote on the consent document was recorded on the meeting minutes excerpt provided; staff presented the document and answered questions. The council moved on to other agenda items after the discussion.
Next steps: staff said they will bring the consent‑to‑assignment paperwork forward for council action, and the transfer will proceed as the sale closes and administrative approvals are completed.
