Bibb County approves out-of-state contractor for hazardous encampment cleanups, officials say safety requires specialists

Bibb County commissioners voted to authorize the mayor to sign an independent-contractor agreement with New England Trauma Services LLC to perform hazardous encampment remediation on a per-event basis, county officials said.

Mayor Lester M. Miller told commissioners the county issued a request for proposals in January and selected the New Hampshire-based firm from four respondents because it met hazmat and environmental certifications the county lacks in-house. "This is only a per needed basis," Miller said, describing the contract as an option the county will use when outreach and local cleanup efforts leave hazardous materials that require specialist treatment.

Assistant County Attorney Adriana Beavers said social-service partners conduct multiple outreach visits and offer rehousing before a final walkthrough, and that specialist contractors are brought in only where there are needles, biohazard waste or other materials requiring EPD/EPA-level handling. "They do have the training necessary to do that," Beavers said, adding the company "is out of New Hampshire." She said cleanup work typically involves code enforcement, the sheriff's office for on-site enforcement when people remain, and the county's outreach team to assist those who accept services.

Commissioners asked how often the firm would be used and what costs could be expected. Staff estimated that a larger cleanup could run into "the tens of thousands of dollars" in past instances and emphasized the contract would not be used for routine small encampments. Commissioners also sought and received assurances that the vendor is licensed and bonded and that the county would continue to prioritize outreach and storage of personal belongings for people who leave sites voluntarily.

The measure was moved and seconded on the record and carried; it was placed on the consent agenda for final processing.

Why it matters: County staff said the agreement provides a prequalified option for rare, hazardous cleanups that require certified hazmat handling the county cannot safely or legally perform with existing crews. The decision responds to public concern and social-media discussion about recent cleanup plans and aims to document an outreach-first approach paired with specialist remediation when necessary.

What happens next: The mayor may execute the contract and the county will continue outreach and notification before any specialist removal; individual deployments of the contractor will be made as-needed and funded from the parks and beautification contractual-services line.