Staff says changes in state rules pushed PBS contract costs up; drone methane sensing planned

Public works staff told commissioners a change in state requirements effectively moved the landfill monitoring standard to readings every 25 square feet, dramatically increasing the scope of work and contract cost. "That's why that price has gone up that much," staff said when explaining why the PBS contract amendment is more expensive and why the county expects to re-bid the service when the contract ends at year‑end.

Staff explained the county expects drone-based methane monitoring to replace a prior hand‑wand method because the new grid is too large to walk efficiently. Commissioners asked whether the drone senses methane through tarp deficiencies and how the sensors operate; staff said the method is state‑approved but deferred technical sensor specifics and flight-altitude questions to the vendor.