Resident urges Taft to require proof of county permits and insurance for septic haulers using city dump

Ken Sugar, a local septic and sewer business owner, told the Taft City Council on June 2 that he believes companies are bringing septic and industrial waste into the Taft dump site without required Kern County environmental permits or appropriate insurance. Sugar said these operators receive dump access cards and undercut compliant local businesses by charging substantially less.

"They're not adhering to the rules and regulations of the state and the county environmental waste," Sugar said, listing concerns including missing county permits, improper insurance for hazardous-waste transport, and trucks parked on local streets. He said his company has complied for 17 years and urged the city to require permit and insurance verification before issuing dump access cards, as other jurisdictions do.

Council members asked clarifying questions. The mayor and council directed City Manager Craig Jones to have staff investigate and return with a future agenda item to discuss issuance criteria for access cards to the facility; the transcript records a request to place the matter on a future agenda for more detailed discussion.

Also during public comment, Glenn Black of the Taft Chamber of Commerce introduced the chamber’s new executive director, Stephanie Leightton. Leightton said she is "very excited" and looks forward to supporting downtown businesses and planning Fourth of July activities, including a cruise night and a parade.

What happens next: staff will review the permitting and card-issuance process for the wastewater disposal facility (which city staff said is jointly owned by the City of Taft and Kern County) and will return to council with a staff report and potential agenda item to consider revised issuance criteria or proof-of-permit requirements.