Boone County Solid Waste District wins council approval to seek up to $5.2 million in bonds for year-round collection facility

The Boone County Solid Waste Management District asked the county council on July 14 to authorize pursuit of property purchase and public financing of up to $5.2 million to support a year-round collection facility and expanded programming.

Jennifer Lawrence, executive director of the district, told the council the district has operated since 1991 and currently runs twice-yearly hazardous-waste and electronics collections and three unmanned county recycling drop sites (Orintown, Advance and Whitestown). She said the district wants a manned facility of roughly 10,000'14,000 square feet with office space, truck docks and exterior programming areas to reduce illegal dumping and improve material quality.

Emma Adlam of Baker Tilly presented illustrative bond scenarios based on a $5.2 million par amount, showing 5-, 8-, 10- and 20-year repayment terms and corresponding debt-service tax rates. Baker Tilly said the board was leaning toward an 8-year term; shorter terms would raise annual payments but shorten the levy period. The firm also modeled household and commercial examples (median home value, agricultural acreage, rental and commercial properties) to show tax-rate impacts under each term.

Council discussion focused on whether multiple properties owned by a single taxpayer would stack (Baker Tilly said yes) and the relative impact on commercial haulers that pay based on volume. Lawrence said the district does not intend to compete with private haulers but to fill service gaps where curbside recycling or drop-off is not available.

After discussion, the council approved a resolution in support of the district board's authorization to identify property and pursue public financing, allowing the district to continue due diligence and seek specific financing only when needed. The resolution passed by voice vote.