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Local trash company owner tells board he was overlooked during procurement talks
Summary
John Smalls, owner of a local waste-disposal firm, told trustees he made 14 calls and emails over eight months seeking to supply the district’s trash services and said his company ordered about $22,000 of dumpsters after being told the district would switch providers; he asked the board for acknowledgment and requested staff follow up.
At the start of the public-comment period, John Smalls (who identified himself for the record) addressed the board to raise concerns about recent trash-service procurement outside Elko city limits.
Smalls said he is the owner of a locally owned waste disposal firm and described repeated attempts — roughly 14 calls and emails over eight months — to reach district staff, including a final contact on May 6, 2026, after which he said he was told staff would follow up. Based on staff assurances that a provider change was expected, he said his company ordered about $22,000 worth of dumpsters to be ready for service. Smalls said he learned at the June 16 board meeting that the district had worked out a deal with the incumbent provider and that his company had not been mentioned during that discussion.
"It's disappointing that we were not mentioned at that hearing," he said, and he asked the board to review communications and to follow up. The chair stopped public comment at the three-minute limit and asked him to submit his documentation by email so staff could investigate and respond.
Trustees and staff acknowledged the request and offered to be contacted; the meeting record shows staff asked for Mr. Smalls’ contact information and suggested he remain for the second public-comment period later in the meeting.
What’s next: Mr. Smalls was asked to provide written documentation by email so staff can review procurement contacts and respond to his concerns.
