Waste hauler warns of rate increases as commissioners decline to subsidize private hauling

A private waste hauler told the Madison County Board of Service that he currently removes about five tons of waste a week associated with county properties and warned commissioners that, unless the board opts to subsidize hauling or tipping costs, he will raise customer charges and the county's residents could face what he called a "double bill."

"We're removing five tons of garbage a basically a week from you guys," the hauler told the board, and he estimated tipping-related costs would equate to "under 10,000 a year"; he said customer bills would rise as a consequence. He offered concrete impacts: example increases of about $120 a month for Ruby Springs, $45 for a local IGA, and $60 for the hospital, while regular residential customers might see an increase of roughly $5 per month.

Board members pushed back on the notion of subsidizing a private company. One commissioner said the county should not "supplement a private entity in this capacity" and warned that providing such support would be a poor precedent. The commissioner described the private hauling service as the hauler's business function and said residents already pay separate municipal solid-waste disposal fees; supplementing haul costs, he said, would be inappropriate.

The hauler urged the board to make a decision quickly so he could give customers clear notice; the board said a study is underway and members would await the study's results before making a final determination. No formal subsidy or contract change was approved at the meeting.