Residents press Bonner County over solid-waste sticker fees and take-home vehicle policy

Public comment at the March 10 Bonner County commission meeting focused heavily on solid-waste sticker fees, what counts as "household" waste, and the county’s approach to handling large items.

Amy Lensford and other residents described instances where broken household items — such as a fallen-apart basketball hoop — were treated as non-household waste at transfer sites and charged accordingly. "Why are we being charged to drop off a basketball hoop?" one commenter asked, describing additional separation requirements at the drop-off site. County staff and commissioners said the county is refining definitions to draw clearer lines between household waste (covered by a sticker) and other categories, which are charged separately because disposal costs are weight-based and require distinct handling.

Commissioners and staff emphasized practical constraints: some items must be handled and transported to recycling or scrap facilities, and not all sites accept card payments, which has frustrated residents who arrive without cash. Staff noted spring-cleanup days and recommended residents near town consider taking recyclable metal to local scrap facilities where they may receive payment rather than paying disposal fees.

The meeting also featured discussion of a justice-services vehicle repair claim after a collision with a deer (listed at $6,823); Christian Johnson, identified in the meeting as the county's risk manager, said the repair cost is below the vehicle's estimated value and suggested the county evaluate take-home vehicle assignment and insurance exposure. Several commissioners requested a focused internal audit on who is assigned county vehicles and whether take-home policies increase insurance costs.

Solid Waste is reviewing whether removing construction-type items from sticker coverage should allow a reduction in sticker price; staff are also exploring point-of-sale systems and use of scales, but no final decisions were announced. "We are at the infancy stage of looking at point-of-sale systems, potential use of scales and all those factors," the road-and-bridge director said when summarizing follow-ups for public questions about solid-waste operations.

The record shows staff and commissioners agreed to continue evaluating fee structure, card acceptance and take-home vehicle policy and to bring those topics back for more detailed review.