Tipping fees at the Ferry County dump may decrease in the future, according to county commissioner Brad Miller, who spoke at the Republic City Council meeting March 3.
Miller and the other Ferry County commissioners attended the meeting along with their clerk and representatives of the county's public works department.
Miller told the council the commissioners wanted to give the council a heads up on a draft flow control ordinance they will be considering March 25 and to let them know about the Torboy Transfer Station.
County officials talked to Rabanco representatives about paying off the loan on the transfer station, and were informed it could be done if the contract with Rabanco is extended.
That contract now reaches into 2012, Miller said.
The county contracts with the firm for solid waste and recycling services. Rabanco in turn contracts with Couse Sanitation and Recycle.
Couse Sanitation and Recycle has a separate contract with the city to handle waste disposal.
Cliff Couse, owner of the business, appeared at the Jan. 7 council meeting asking for a letter allowing him to research the possibility of disposing trash collected within the city limits at other facilities outside the county.
A decrease in tipping fees could make that plan economically unfeasible, according to those involved. Tipping fees are what haulers pay to dump at a landfill.
Couse was present at the meeting, but did not address the council.
In other business:
- Signage for the ball field was discussed, and it was decided to look into signs as well as a stone monument. The parks committee will look into the matter.
Mayor Shirley Couse said she wants something to be done this spring.
- Mayor Couse reported that she had talked to Ferry County sheriff Pete Warner about help covering the city if police chief Nick Merritt resigns. Merritt told the council Feb. 19 that he was considering taking a job with the sheriff's department.
Couse also told the council that she had looked into the matter and if the city employed only two law enforcement officers, they wouldn't be under civil service.
- Councilman Alex Wirt reported that something would be finalized on the history of Republic DVD project by the end of the month.
- Council went into executive (closed-door) session to discuss a personnel issue.
