Board directs staff to draft bids for movable fencing and tarp system, weighs compactor lease vs. purchase

County procurement staff asked the board for direction to prepare an invitation to bid for movable landfill fencing and a tarp system to control wind-blown litter, saying multiple vendors provided preliminary quotes but no state cooperative contract was available.

"I'm really needing is direction and a scope of work and specs in order to send it out to them," Procurement Officer Andrea said, urging the board to approve specifications so the two vendors who provided estimates could bid on a formal ITB.

Board members pressed for contractor licensing verification and noted procurement rules: Andrea said bids must include contractor licenses and insurance and staff will verify credentials after submission. Andrea said typical public posting windows are 30 days but recommended 45–60 days to align with meeting schedules.

Separately, staff and members discussed whether to lease or buy a replacement compactor. Finance staff warned lead times for purchase and grant approvals are long; leasing could spread payments but would add substantial recurring expense. Finance Director Matoya estimated annual costs in the hundreds of thousands if the county adds another lease payment.

Board members highlighted operational risk from aging compactors: frequent breakdowns have required temporary repairs and, if both machines were down during a state inspection, the landfill could face violations. A staff member said modern compactors include telematics that record compaction density; acquiring that software (a separate vendor product, Trimble was referenced) would improve compliance reporting but may itself require a procurement path.

The board asked staff to prepare specs and schedule a follow-up meeting to finalize the ITB and to return with lease cost proposals and grant options. No binding purchase or lease was authorized at the meeting.