Rural dump sites to be switched over to manned sites in December; Supervisors approve Town and Country Sanitation bid

by Bob Beach

During its regular meeting Monday, October 3, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met with Solid Waste Coordinator Dave Mooney to discuss the future of garbage disposal services for rural residents and to review bids received last week for rural solid waste and recycling services as well as service for the main site outside Waukon. Mooney said that, starting in December, the County’s rural dump sites would be closed and replaced with manned sites outside Lansing, Waterville, Dorchester and New Albin and in Ludlow Township. Each site would be open one day a week from 3-7 p.m., though Mooney said a specific schedule has not been finalized.
Town and Country Sanitation submitted the low bid for servicing the manned rural sites of $250 per day plus $48 per ton with no additional charge for recycling, for a total estimated annual cost of $93,800 (assuming 600 tons per year). Mooney said the total cost for services to the rural sites in the last fiscal year was $136,526, so the change would result in significant savings.
Town and Country also submitted the low bid for services at the main site, including $165 per pull from the compactor plus $48 per ton, the same cost for the 30-yard “construction box,” $165 per haul of appliances and metal and no charge for paper and glass recycling.
By comparison, Waste Management bid $773.50 per day plus $55 per ton and $35.18 per ton for recycling, for an estimated annual cost of $235,110; Richards Sanitation bid $460 per day plus $59 per ton and no additional charge for recycling for an estimated annual cost of $155,000. For service at the main site, Waste Management bid $265 per pull from the compactor plus $55 per ton, $245 per pull plus $55 per ton for the 30-yard construction box, $125 per haul of appliances and metal and $109 per month for paper and glass recycling; Richards Sanitation bid $225 per pull from the compactor plus $59 per ton, $215 per pull plus $59 per ton from the 30-yard construction box, $130 per haul of appliances and metal and $129 per month for paper and glass recycling.
The Board voted unanimously to accept the low bid from Town and Country Sanitation. Mooney also asked the Board to consider whether to purchase a compactor for approximately $24,000 or to lease a compactor for the main site from Town and Country Sanitation for $300 per month, an issue the Board will discuss further next week.
The Board also met with County Attorney Jill Kistler, who asked for the Board’s approval to hire Robyn Cary-Dundee as the Victim and Witness Coordinator, a part-time position shared with Fayette County through a 28E agreement. The Board approved hiring Cary-Dundee with a start date of October 5.
In other business, the Board set Monday, October 17 at 9:30 a.m. as the date and time for a public hearing regarding reprecincting based on the 2010 census.