Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 114, No. 47	November 21, 2007

Elizabethtown firm named waste vendor in 6-1 Fiscal Court vote

By LARRY SEE JR.
Messenger Staff

Waste Transport of Elizabethtown is the county’s new solid waste hauler.

The contending bidder was Louisville-based Waste Management.

With the approval, residents can expect to see their garbage bills increase about 38 percent, while commercial customers will be saddled with a 50 percent rate increase. Waste Transport’s bid for residential pickup was $17.25 per residential address. Magistrates, on a 6-1 vote with Magistrate Herbie Chism casting the lone dissenting vote, cemented the deal Nov. 13, ending several months of deliberations, which included a rebidding process. Magistrate Tony Staples made the motion for the contractor, which was supported by Magistrate Steve Wardrip.

Judge Executive Harry Craycroft said the county’s solid waste advisory board recommended Meade County get out of the waste hauling business and magistrates could choose one of two options, with one allowing the contractors to bill and the second letting the county continue the process.

Chism clarified earlier comments which were misconstrued in the local media. He said although the first set of bids were opened in July, it put the county at great liability when one bidder was granted the opportunity to submit a revised bid.

“We elected to throw those bids out and bid again. That went on for 60 days or so, then we opened them up, had a meeting and set a public hearing date for two weeks later,” Chism said.

Chism referenced the meeting where a public hearing date was originally set, but alleged the judge executive’s office didn’t get the necessary publication completed in time.

“He forgot to put in the paper and it was delayed another two weeks,” Chism said. “That is one reason why it has taken so long to get it done.”

Chism questioned Craycroft as to how much money the solid waste and recycle department had in the bank, as of Oct. 31.

“That has been discussed in open session,” Craycroft said. “Everything has been discusssed in the open. Now can we have a roll call please (on the motion).”

Chism called for a point of order.

The point was not affirmed and the roll call proceeded.

“I want to explain my vote,” Chism said, when it became his turn. “I think that option one is the only way to go, and as I asked the judge how much money the department has, they have $340,000 in the bank.”

Chism said he was not going to vote to allow for a price increase, when the department had that revenue in the bank.

“This is going to be a 38 pecent increase for residential (customers) and better than a 50 percent increase for commercial customers,” he said. “I think we could have a smaller increase and still stay in the business, thus I am voting no.”

Craycroft alleged Chism’s figures were misleading.

“They actually don’t have that much money in the bank,” he said. “And if we stay in business it will cost more than $17.25. The advisory board has done their work and they have some very highly, intelligent individuals there. One of them is a math major.”

Staples didn’t know the department had that much money and wondered if a portion could be used to repay the county’s debt.

“We need to get through the transition period,” Craycroft said, adding that after the transition period has ended the county would see where they stood.

Craycroft plans to recommend, if everything was going well, the department borrow money from Fiscal Court to pay the debt and the court would write off the bill as a bad debt.

“We need to get our feet on the ground and see where we are at first,” Craycroft said. “It may be February or so before this happens.”

Waste Management representative Tim McNally thanked county officials for the process.

“You really did work hard and Mark (Gossett) did a great job. I also want to thank you for the opportunity to bid,” he said.

During public comment, Waste Transport’s owner Wayne Smith pointed out his seat to the magistrates as he addressed them.

“That seat is mine,” he said, pointing to the fourth row. “I claim that seat.”

Smith also thanked them, adding the bid part was easy and the hard part was just beginning.

“We understand that, accept it and we want to thank you,” he said.

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