OSWEGO — Labette County Commissioners heard from Solid Waste Committee Chair Derek Clevenger during Monday’s county commission meeting.
Clevenger attended to answer questions concerning Tim Peoples’ appointment to the Solid Waste Committee. Peoples was previously removed from the board by county commissioners.
“I know the past, but he has knowledge of what we’re dealing with,” Clevenger said. “Which is helpful, because there are people who wouldn’t have a clue what we’re dealing with, with GFL. It’s a tough committee to be on. He gets it.”
As the Sun has previously reported: GFL Environmental operates the trash transfer station south of Parsons, and a third party hauler takes trash from the transfer station to the GFL landfill in Arcadia. GFL wants to renegotiate the current 10-year contract because its representatives said the company isn’t earning enough money.
This was again brought up during the most recent Solid Waste Committee meeting, last Thursday. According to District 1 Commissioner Vincent Shibi, who also is on the committee, GFL is seeking to change the current rate of $45 per ton, to $65 per ton, along with increasing the cost of roll-off dumpsters.
No agreement was reached during the meeting, and Shibi said he was doubtful they would increase the rates so significantly at this time.
Shibi said one issue is that the budget has already been set for next year. Shibi also noted that the current contract already includes a 2% increase annually to account for inflation, and the contract has already been renegotiated once so far.
Shibi said the county owns the transfer station building, and that the land is owned by the City of Parsons. GFL does not pay rent to operate the transfer station.
“I think they do a good job. I’m not sure if it is a permanent solution,” Shibi said of GFL.
In the last 18 months, there have been talks of GFL potentially breaking off the contract. According to Shibi, doing so would cost GFL a hefty fine.
The Labette County Commission meets each Monday at 9 a.m. at the Labette County Courthouse.
