Commission OKs landfill fee increases

Bourbon County Commissioners on Monday decided it is time to increase fees at the county landfill.

The increase comes after a year when, thanks to the April 7, 2013 hailstorm, the landfill revenue increased -- but so did the cost of operation and the wear and tear on equipment.

"Some things we're faced with is the hopper for solid waste is in need of repair," Commission Chairman Allen Warren said. "We've done a lot of welding, we've replaced lots of metal. It's just a worn out piece of equipment."

Warren said a replacement has been located in Canada and just the hopper -- without the hydraulics -- costs $100,000. That also does not include the cost of having the hopper shipped via semi-truck to Bourbon County.

Bourbon County's landfill is a transfer station because solid waste from it is hauled daily to Allen County. Construction and demolition materials are buried at the Bourbon County landfill.

Commissioners have toured Anderson County's landfill, which also is a transfer station. Anderson County has eliminated the hydraulic system and is using a semi-enclosed area for collecting solid waste.

Warren said it would cost about $100,000 to build a similar structure in Bourbon County.

In addition to improvements at the landfill, Warren said the county will also have to begin considering cleaning up hazardous materials at the Wade Aluminum site, located across the road from the landfill.

A 2012 site evaluation determined there are 8 cubic yards of hazardous waste that will cost the county $4,700 to remove. The rest of the material will be buried.

Roads and Bridges Director Jim Harris provided Warren with rates from other counties to use as a comparison.

Bourbon County currently charges $15 per ton for construction and demolition materials; Anderson County, $22 per ton; Wilson County, $20 per ton; and Allen County doesn't charge its residents because it receives revenue from nine counties that haul to that landfill.

Bourbon County charges $36.80 per ton for solid waste; Anderson County is $40 per ton; Wilson County is $40 per ton; and Allen County does not charge its residents.

In addition to the per ton fees, Bourbon County charges residents a minimum of $8.65 for smaller loads.

Commissioners voted to increase the construction and demolition fee to $20 per ton and solid waste to $40 per ton. The minimum charge to residents increases to $10 and includes tax. The tonnage fees do not include tax.

Prior to the hailstorm, the landfill was not supporting itself financially.

During one budget session, Warren said prior to the hail storm, commissioners were considering increasing the fees, but they did not because they did not want it to appear the county was taking advantage of residents or contractors who needed to dispose of roofing materials.

In other county business:

* Commissioners held a 15-minute executive session with Roads and Bridges Director Jim Harris to discuss nonelected personnel to protect their privacy. No action was taken.

* Harris reported the ditching crew will complete work on 265th Street. A public works crew will be working one day in the City of Uniontown. Culvert work is being completed on 240th Street, where a milling machine will be moved to begin additional work on the road. Crews will soon be hauling rock to Hickory Road near Kansas Highway 3. Harris said depending on the weather, the county will begin working on paths at the Riverfront Park in the near future.

* A work session to discuss hard-surface road projects was postponed from Wednesday to 1 p.m. April 2.