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Tazewell supervisors authorize RFP to borrow up to $4 million for landfill, tire‑shredder and fire projects
Summary
County staff outlined capital needs — a $2 million leachate tank, tire‑shredder, transfer‑station work and fire‑station renovations — and the board authorized issuing an RFP to finance approximately $4 million (with refinancing increasing total financed amount), aiming to reduce recurring leachate hauling costs and fund several infrastructure projects.
County staff told the board the county faces rising landfill operating costs and several capital needs, and recommended issuing an RFP to borrow up to $4 million to pay for a new leachate tank, a tire shredder, transfer‑station upgrades and fire‑station work.
“That's our plan,” said the county administrator (speaker 4) while describing the landfill needs. “The estimated cost on that is $2,000,000 for the leachate tank at the landfill. We applied for a grant from the state for $400,000 to help build the leachate tank … but we need to go ahead and build that tank.” The administrator explained that hauling leachate to a West Virginia plant cost the county significantly more per gallon than treating it at the local plant and that a new tank would reduce recurring hauling and treatment costs.
Staff also described a plan for a tire shredder to process tires currently accumulating at the landfill. The recorded quote: “We got a quote for a tire shredder that's about $375,000. I'm assuming we're gonna have to put in a concrete pad … I'm using a placeholder number of about $500,000 for the tire shredder.” He said the shredder could accept tires from neighboring counties, generate mulch or byproducts for local use, and reduce annual disposal costs estimated at tens of thousands of dollars.
Faced with multiple capital needs, staff proposed two financing scenarios: borrow only the $4 million, or refinance existing landfill debt and spread payments over more years to lower annual debt service while accepting a higher interest cost over time. Staff said refinancing could increase total financed amount but improve near‑term cash flow and make the leachate tank affordable sooner.
After discussing scenarios and grant prospects, the board authorized staff to issue an RFP to solicit loan/bond proposals, including submissions to the state’s Virginia Resources Authority and private lenders. A motion to authorize issuing the RFP passed on a voice vote.
The board did not record detailed bid terms at the meeting; staff said the finance advisor would return a recommendation to the board in March after reviewing bids and the VRA option. Staff also said some elements of the borrowing could be reduced if grants (for example, a $400,000 leachate grant) are awarded.
