Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sanitary Disposal topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Umatilla County commissioners approve 5.5% sanitary disposal rate increase after debate with Waste Connections
Summary
After extended debate and public comment, the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners approved a 5.5% increase to sanitary-disposal collection and transfer-station rates for unincorporated areas and committed to a review of company finances beginning no later than October.
The Umatilla County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a 5.5% increase in sanitary-disposal rates for collections and transfer-station charges for unincorporated parts of the county, adopting order BCC 20260036 as amended.
Commissioners debated a company request for a 14% increase and several intermediate proposals before settling on 5.5%. One commissioner initially moved to increase rates by 7% "to get them closer to the ballpark," citing neighboring municipal rates; another argued for a smaller increase tied to recent CPI figures. The board also agreed to begin a review of Waste Connections’ financial numbers no later than October to better understand cost drivers.
Waste Connections’ representative (Kevin) told commissioners the company had reviewed its finances with corporate accountants and at the SWAC and said, "we'd just request that since we're gonna do this on that third party that you would accept the findings." Commissioners, while acknowledging operational costs such as longer rural routes and vehicle replacement, pressed for clearer depreciation schedules and additional transparency before larger increases.
During public comment, Shane (Shana) Lilly, speaking from Longview, Washington, urged sensitivity to fixed-income households and said the company had previously not applied increases to senior accounts: "We very much recognize the burden that this puts on our fixed income members of our community." Staff and company representatives confirmed a published 35-gallon senior rate of $16.97.
The motion that passed directs county staff to adopt the amended rate schedule (5.5%) and begins a financial review of the franchise no later than October; the board also authorized the clerk to update the order paperwork to reflect the amended rate. The motion passed unanimously.
What happens next: staff said the county will begin a review of Waste Connections’ numbers in the fall and return findings to the board; no further rate adjustments were adopted at this meeting.
