Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solid Waste topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners defer decision on county hauling contract after debate over costs, service and contract terms
Summary
After extended discussion about contracting vs. county‑run hauling, backup equipment, remote site service and five‑year cost projections, commissioners postponed a vote on the Evergreen hauling contract to collect severability and termination‑clause details and possible options for a staged county takeover.
Lincoln County commissioners on May 13 debated whether to award a five‑year hauling and solid‑waste contract to Evergreen or pursue a county‑run alternative, then agreed to postpone a final vote to gather more procurement details.
County staff presented a comparison showing the county taking hauling in‑house would cost roughly $260,000 more over five years (including about $128,000 in startup costs for dumpsters/boxes), while Evergreen’s proposal carried lower immediate startup risk and included backup equipment and staffing. Staff summarized Evergreen’s proposed five‑year schedule: year 1 $465,000; year 2 $488,250; year 3 $512,662.50; year 4 $538,295.63; year 5 $565,210.41.
Board members discussed tradeoffs: one commissioner said contracting with Evergreen reduces county operational risk because the company has backup trucks and trained crews, while another argued the county could eventually reduce costs and tailor service (for example, by converting remote sites to roll‑off service) if it built an in‑house program and leased compactor trucks. A public commenter suggested negotiating a progressive yearly decline in the contract and using smaller roll‑off trailers for remote sites to lower costs.
“Some of the smaller sites could be picked up with different equipment that’s not as expensive,” a public commenter said, suggesting one‑ton trucks pulling roll‑off trailers and trailers costing roughly $25,000.
Concerns that remained: whether other companies would bid, how termination and severability clauses would permit county exit if it later chooses to resume service, and the availability and lease terms for compactor trucks. The county attorney emphasized procurement risk and the need for clear contract language.
Decision: Rather than vote to award the Evergreen contract, commissioners voted to postpone the motion and return the item to the next meeting after staff obtains severability/termination language and additional procurement options.
Why it matters: The hauling contract governs core solid‑waste services across Lincoln County, affects annual budget obligations, remote‑site service levels and continuity of operations when equipment fails, and could influence future county operational choices.
Next steps: Staff will seek additional contractor responses, provide severability and termination‑clause language, and return the item to the board for action at the next scheduled meeting.
