Waste Pro took over hauling Gilmer County’s solid waste at the beginning of 2022, but at a special called meeting, commissioners were putting the finishing touches on the contract.
Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris said everything has been running smoothly with the company. Waste Pro hauls solid waste and provides the compacters and bins at the convenience centers.
“It is not affecting anything so far,” he said.
Either party has made minor changes three or four times which then required further negotiation.
Fuel prices are the latest point.
“The price of fuel just got astronomical,” Paris said. “That’s why they asked for the fuel index.”
Waste Pro representatives asked the county to agree to a fuel surcharge and wanted the contract reduced from 10 years.
Paris said the term of the contract was reduced to five years, then to three years. With the rate of inflation, he said the company did not feel comfortable agreeing to a long-term price.
As for the fuel surcharge, the company sent the county an average rate for July which will be the base for fuel costs. If fuel costs rise, a formula will be applied to raise the cost of each hauling trip.
For the county’s part, commissioners asked for a mirror effect. If fuel costs go below the baseline price, the same formula will be applied to lower the cost.
For July, the base rate for diesel was set at $4.29 per gallon plus any state or federal taxes.
Paris and Post Commissioner Hubert Parker approved the changes. Post Commissioner Karleen Ferguson did not attend the special called meeting Aug. 4.
The contract will be sent back to Waste Pro for approval.
“People don’t realize what an expense solid waste is,” said Paris. “The dollar [per bag] covers maybe half of it, but not all.”
Gilmer County’s budget for solid waste is $1,304,972. Fees at the scales for large-scale haulers and the $1 per bag charge at convenience centers offset this by bringing in an estimated $923,000.