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Lincoln County staff proposes raising refuge assessment to $200 as hauling costs climb
Summary
County staff presented three options to address rising landfill and remote-site costs — including reducing remote sites, renewing a hauling contract (Evergreen estimated about $460,000), or returning hauling to county operations — and recommended moving forward with a draft resolution to increase the refuge assessment (current $150) to $200 with a 2.5% annual escalation and public hearings.
County staff told commissioners on Thursday that rising hauling and site-maintenance costs mean the county cannot sustain current service levels without higher fees or reduced remote-site coverage. The staff presentation outlined three response options: sharply reduce the number of remote public sites and add staff and equipment; renew a hauling contract (the county’s current contractor, Evergreen, provided a top-end estimate of about $460,000); or resume county-run hauling and operations, which would require new trucks, drivers and site upgrades.
The proposal centered on increasing the county refuge assessment, which staff said is currently $150. Staff presented revenue models showing incremental increases — $160, $175, $180 and $200 — and a recommendation to consider $200 combined with an annual escalation (staff proposed 2.5%). “I used 460,000 as an estimate for the hauling contract because that’s what Evergreen had quoted us,” a county staff member said during the discussion. The staff presentation also assumed charging for some special wastes (such as wood waste) and increasing the per-cubic-yard fee from $8 to $12 in some scenarios.
Why this matters: the county currently maintains 10 public sites and 11 county dumpsters under its contract; reducing the number of contracted sites or eliminating the hauling contract would affect where residents — particularly in remote areas — may dispose of household refuse. Staff warned the current $150 assessment does not fund present operations and that the hauling contract expires Nov. 26. The staff presenter described a hybrid option as feasible, in which the county keeps some sites under contract and takes over others to reduce costs while maintaining access.
Commissioner discussion centered on tradeoffs between higher taxes and reduced service. Commissioner Ryan Barman voiced fiscal and operational concerns about the county returning to hauling: “Concerns of mine would be why does the county want to get back into the trucking business? increased liability, increased cost, and trucks are going up all the time,” he said. Staff and other commissioners discussed possible public outreach and informational meetings in remote parts of the county to seek input before the public hearing.
Outcome and next steps: commissioners agreed to move forward with a draft resolution and to schedule public hearings so residents can comment on proposed increases and service changes. The board did not adopt a fee ordinance at the meeting; staff will prepare the draft resolution, model hybrid options and present notice of public hearings for the refuge assessment proposal.
