Bonner County approves card-based voucher system for solid-waste access amid concerns over sticker prices

The Bonner County Board of Commissioners on July 14 approved adding a voucher (card) access module to the county's solid-waste point-of-sale system, a move county staff said will replace the existing sticker program and improve tracking and fraud control.

Melissa Gold, a Solid Waste representative, told commissioners the county’s current contract expires Sept. 30, 2026, and the vendor module being proposed under a contract dated April 2, 2026, would include a one-time cost of $93,700 and an annual subscription fee (reported in the presentation as $19.20). "The voucher system module will replace the current sticker program with the card based access system providing a more accurate and efficient method of verifying access for residents who pay solid waste fees," Melissa Gold said.

Why it matters: Commissioners and staff said the card-based system would give the county more reliable data about usage and reduce the administrative burden of lost or misdelivered stickers. That data, board members said, could eventually allow more granular pricing tiers tied to actual disposal. But several commissioners raised a caution: adopting the module now could mean sticker prices remain unchanged in the near term.

Commissioner concerns and policy questions: One commissioner (speaker 6) pressed how the new system would affect the sticker price and the everyday rules residents would follow. "So if this goes through, if this is the primary thing that's locking it in, that means no reduction in stickers," the commissioner said, noting widespread public concern about recent sticker-price changes. Commissioners also asked whether the technology department had signed off on integration; staff said prior conversations indicated compatibility but not all integration details have been finalized.

Operational details and safeguards: Staff explained the system allows deactivating lost cards and issuing replacements for an administrative fee, reducing the potential for unauthorized use. Commissioners discussed policy questions the system would raise — for example, whether a three-yards-per-day allowance would be tracked cumulatively or enforced across nonconsecutive visits — and agreed additional rules would need to be written.

Board action and next steps: After discussion the board voted to approve adding the voucher module to the existing contract between Bonner County Solid Waste and Stellars Gale Tech (contract dated 04/02/2026). The motion to approve was moved, seconded and adopted by roll call. Staff said they will return with implementation details and any policy changes needed for enforcement, tiered pricing and card replacement fees.

The vote: The motion passed on roll call; the board did not provide a published statewide vote tally in the meeting record.