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Council directs staff to clarify solid‑waste franchise RFP after bidders flag scope and billing questions
Summary
Bidders on Feb. 11 raised questions about customer counts, tonnage vs. yardage, transfer‑station scope, roll‑off exclusivity, billing, insurance limits and tire disposal. The council unanimously directed staff to revise the RFP and return a final bid package.
Carlin city leaders on Feb. 11 instructed staff to revise the city’s solid‑waste franchise request for proposals after prospective bidders sought clarifications on multiple technical and contractual points.
Mayor Cameron Kinney and representatives from Elko Sanitation and Olcese Waste Services reviewed discrepancies in the RFP’s customer counts and container mix. The mayor reported 742 total customers (688 residential using 95‑gallon containers) and provided a breakdown of commercial and roll‑off containers. Bidders confirmed the counts were from January.
Vendors asked whether the RFP should be structured around yardage or tonnage; Lissa Campos of Elko Sanitation said bidders base calculations on tonnage because the local landfill monitors weight. Mayor Kinney provided average monthly tonnage figures: residential 80.48 tons, commercial 69.23 tons and roll‑offs 98.21 tons.
Bidders also asked if the franchisee would operate the city transfer station or only provide bins and haul‑off service; the council clarified the city will continue to operate the transfer station and asked staff to change the RFP language to state the franchisee would provide bins and haul off material from the city‑operated transfer station. The council discussed alternative billing structures and whether the current landfill fee on utility bills — which subsidizes the transfer station shortfall — could be eliminated if the franchisee handled billing and a revenue‑based franchise fee (suggested at 2%) was adopted.
Council and vendors debated exclusivity for roll‑off containers and how to treat private haulers. Tillio Olcese (Olcese Waste Services) recommended vehicles be DMV‑registered and warned that illegal dumping could increase if exclusive roll‑off rights were granted without enforcement. Vendors asked for clear language excluding non‑franchise roll‑off use while allowing gardeners and landscapers to transport yard waste in other container types.
Insurance requirements, tipping fees and tire disposal were also discussed. The council reviewed proposed insurance minimums (for example, a suggested general aggregate limit of $10 million and automobile liability at $5 million) and agreed to strike professional liability where Pool/Pact recommended changes. The landfill tipping fee was confirmed at $40 per ton, and council members agreed to include tire disposal as an item bidders could price in the RFP.
After the discussion, Councilperson Denise Taylor moved, and Councilmember Brandon Keller seconded, a motion directing staff to incorporate the clarifications (transfer‑station scope, roll‑off language, billing structure, rate exhibits, event cleanup language and updated insurance language) and return a revised bid package. The motion passed unanimously.
