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Commission waives landfill fees for Wild West Festival after organizers cite $1.9M local impact
Summary
Organizers of the Wild West Festival asked the Ellis County Commission to waive landfill weight fees for the July event; the commission approved the waiver by voice vote, citing volunteer cleanup and prior economic impact estimates.
Organizers of the Wild West Festival told the Ellis County Commission on May 10 that the annual event will run July 1–3 (setup June 27–30, tear-down July 5) and asked the county to waive landfill weight fees.
Jeff Jordan, representing the festival, said the event brings significant dollars to the region: “Two years ago, the economic impact was estimated for the Wild West Festival, what they bring into the community at $1,900,000 to our community.” Tom Lippert, a co-organizer, said the festival has relied on volunteers (including scouts) to help with cleanup and that past events have left parks in good condition.
A commissioner moved to waive municipal waste fees for the 2026 Wild West Festival; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Commissioners discussed typical waste volumes (organizers estimated about two roll‑off containers) and thanked organizers for volunteer coordination.
The waiver applies to landfill weight fees for the festival; organizers said they will continue volunteer cleanup and provide contact information for residents who want to help. The county did not specify a dollar value for the fee waiver in the discussion.
The waiver was handled on the consent agenda and took effect immediately in the commission’s approval. The county clerk will reflect the waiver in the consent-agenda minutes.
