After years of discussion and more than $1 million spent on researching options for solid waste management, New Hanover County commissioners have decided to go forward with a solid waste plan that would turn the county’s services over to a private provider.
Just weeks after receiving an unsolicited offer from Waste Industries to take over the county’s solid waste management—largely by way of a transfer station that would ship waste out to the company’s landfill in Sampson County—the board voted 4-1, with Jonathan Barfield dissenting, to pursue negotiations on a contract with the company, the definitions of which could determine the extent of a planned deconstruction of the county’s Wastec facility.
Chairman Woody White confirmed with County Attorney Wanda Copley that the board was free to pursue a service contract without submitting a request for proposals from other companies.
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“This really could’ve been done years ago,” White said at Monday’s meeting. “I’m tired of talking about it, to be honest with you.”
Describing the decision as nonpartisan and about stewardship, White said he took issue with comments he’d heard that shipping waste out-of-county would be irresponsible. “It’s just the opposite,” he said, “because we preserve space in our landfill.”
Noting the county had spent more than $1 million already on studies related to solid waste management, White said the board could continue studying the issue, “…or we can do what people elected us to do, which is to make a decision.”
“I reject the idea that our public employees are better equipped to do this than a private company,” White said. “They might be equally equipped, but I have not been convinced of that sufficiently.”
Barfield reiterated his support for the Wastec waste-to-energy facility, conceding that his was but one vote on a five-member board.
“I will probably never waiver my opinion on Wastec. I would love to see it stay as an option. But I recognize I have one vote on this board, and majority will rule,” Barfield said, adding that the county would move forward the best it can.
County Manager Chris Coudriet advised the board to hold off on directing deconstruction of the Wastec facility, which Commissioner Tom Wolfe said is costing the county $185,000 a year in insurance costs.
Wolfe rescinded a motion to direct staff to pursue self-insurance for the facility, as Coudriet said the contract negotiations with Waste Industries could determine the extent to which the board would want to dismantle the facility—parts of which he said remain valuable to the county.
Related story: Solid waste plan decision held off; county to revisit at Oct. 7 meeting
In other business Monday, the board unanimously approved a loan-forgiveness arrangement with Wave Transit that allows for the continuation of two bus routes that were slated to be cut.
Barfield, who had previously spoken against the request, joined the board in acknowledging the broader discussion started last week, in a meeting with Wave and Wilmington City Council, on long-term funding expectations for Wave, which he said will have “bigger fish to fry” with the federal government shutdown and other funding challenges.
Related story: County amenable to loan forgiveness deal to continue Wave bus routes
Jonathan Spiers is a reporter for Port City Daily. He can be reached at (910) 772-6313 or [email protected]. On Twitter: @jrspiers
