Commissioners open single bid for solid-waste hauling amid concerns over five-year cost escalator

Lincoln County commissioners opened a sealed proposal Feb. 25 for the county’s solid-waste hauling contract and revealed a single bid from Evergreen Disposal that would raise year-one costs from the current $413,000 to $465,000.

The hearing focused on the contract’s five-year escalator: the bid lists 5% annual increases that yield a year-five total of about $565,210. Members of the public and commissioners warned the automatic escalator could substantially increase county expenditures. One commenter estimated the five-year rise would amount to a roughly 37% increase over the current $413,000 annual budget and characterized the escalators as a heavy long-term burden.

Tony Wickham, a resident who called for more public information about transportation and infrastructure projects, said he was told by the Department of Transportation that the nearby Farm-to-Market bridge repair is targeted for completion by November, and he urged clearer timelines for residents. While his comment addressed roads, residents at the solid-waste discussion also urged county officials to publish timelines and explain fiscal impacts to help the public understand trade-offs.

County staff said the proposal did not break down per-site schedules for all transfer locations and that the document described service broadly as “seven days a week” without detailed site-level pickup schedules. Commissioners deferred any award and said they would take time to review the single proposal, request schedule details, and negotiate terms — especially the escalator and potential fuel-cost adjustments — before deciding whether to accept Evergreen’s offer.

The board noted the county budget currently allocates $413,000 for solid-waste hauling and that the proposed first-year increase could be accommodated with adjustments but would require review for future years. No formal contract award was made at the meeting; commissioners said staff would return with a recommendation after negotiations and further fiscal analysis.

The public record for the opening and subsequent discussion is available in the meeting transcript. The county encouraged residents with service- or schedule-related concerns to submit questions to staff during the review period.