Solid Waste Committee — Hickman County (Unofficial)

Solid Waste Committee · Meeting · Aug 3, 2026 · 5:00 PM The Solid Waste Committee unanimously waived a resident’s $103 one-time solid waste charge after hearing the bill had gone to an old tax-record address and that the resident had already paid the underlying $90 and $110 amounts once the issue was discovered. It also unanimously approved buying the Caterpillar undercarriage for the landfill trackhoe, choosing the higher-priced option because it carries a 3,000-hour warranty on a machine with nearly 9,760 hours. Members reviewed mounting equipment-repair pressure, with more than $20,000 already spent from the maintenance line, while staff reported collections were generally strong at 21.5% of the disposal-fee budget despite a reporting lag tied to credit-card transfers. Operational updates covered 2,002 tons moved for the month, compactor rebuilds to stop leaks at convenience centers, and improved metals sorting that brought in $4,792 in sales. The committee also discussed Perry County’s continued use of Hickman County’s transfer service at $66.70 per ton, possible future tipping-fee implications, $47,905 in exemptions and write-offs for vacant and low-income properties, and plans to begin billing businesses for solid waste service in January.

Solid Waste Committee · Meeting · Jun 1, 2026 The Solid Waste Committee focused mainly on rolling out the previously approved commercial and industrial billing system, with members concluding the county’s property data is too messy for accurate billing by the July 1 effective date and that implementation will likely slip to about September 1. Discussion centered on how to classify apartments, duplexes, strip centers, storage units, and other multi-tenant or multi-building properties, and the chair said he would ask County Attorney Dan Mecklenborg whether the delay requires a formal amendment to the resolution. The committee left the current residential late-fee structure unchanged for this year and agreed residential billing can proceed on time while staff build cleaner commercial and residential billing files. Members approved the monthly financial summary, which showed about $233,000 in expenses, revenue running above budget, and ongoing delinquent-account issues. They also reviewed a billing-office collection rate of 91.76 percent and a 4 percent month-over-month reduction in outstanding debt, along with monthly recycling totals and a small electronics and nonferrous scrap pilot that brought in about $1,400 in two weeks using inmate labor. The committee recommended approval of the solid-waste budget for the upcoming budget meeting, while also voicing caution about earmarking reserve funds too narrowly for equipment. Members additionally discussed holiday staffing around Juneteenth and July 4 and heard an update on renewed efforts to obtain FAA land next to the solid-waste site through the county’s congressional delegation.

Solid Waste Committee · Meeting · May 4, 2026 The Solid Waste Committee focused on a worsening financial outlook, with staff outlining a structural deficit tied to an underlying 2025 operating shortfall, a projected $55,000 loss of Perry County business, Waste Management increases estimated at $92,000, and an overall projected cash deficit of about $250,000. Members approved the monthly financials unanimously, reviewed tonnage, recycling, and collections reports, and discussed the poor economics of plastic recycling, with staff saying about 90% of collected plastic is not marketable under current conditions. The committee also advanced a $14,000 budget amendment to support court collections on delinquent accounts, despite some concern about whether the effort would fully pay for itself; the amendment passed by unanimous roll-call vote. On longer-term funding, members debated whether to raise the household solid-waste fee, add or increase commercial and industrial charges, and whether to keep the formal equipment reserve at 5% rather than move to 10% in order to preserve flexibility. Discussion appeared to favor a mixed approach of a $110 household fee plus a commercial or industrial annual charge, rather than relying on larger residential increases or cutting convenience-center hours. The committee then approved sending the proposed solid-waste budget forward, contingent on later passage of the needed fee resolutions, again by unanimous roll-call vote.

Solid Waste Committee · Meeting · Apr 6, 2026 The committee approved the minutes and financial reports, then focused almost entirely on a looming solid-waste budget gap and a likely fee increase. Staff reported stronger collections, including $31,389 in old debt recovered, 24 new payment plans, and a current-year collection rate nearing 90%, but said that still would not offset rising disposal, diesel, and equipment costs. The director said the system can only be stabilized with some version of higher rates, recommending a $120 household fee, a $100-per-ton tipping fee, and a 10% annual contribution to equipment reserve, while warning that Waste Management is seeking a $4-per-ton increase and Perry County may take its disposal business elsewhere. Members debated whether to act now or leave a near-empty fund balance for a future committee, with projections showing the balance falling to roughly $5,000 to $7,000 next year under current rates and running out by 2028. The committee also discussed regional comparisons showing Hickman County near the low end of solid-waste charges and heard that convenience centers would likely be the first service cuts if rates stay unchanged. A member agreed to sponsor a draft resolution so the issue could move forward before the next commission discussion.

Solid Waste Committee · Meeting · Mar 2, 2026 The Solid Waste Committee unanimously approved the state-required 2025 Annual Progress Report and a no-change approval for the county’s outdated 10-year solid waste plan while waiting on expected state grant funding to support a full update. Members also unanimously approved the monthly financial statement, while routine reports covered tonnage, including 668.18 tons of storm debris received at the high school cleanup site and burned rather than landfilled. Staff reported current-year billings of $1,040,940, with $220,485.04 still unpaid including penalties, an 89.41% collection rate, and about $750,000 in older unpaid balances; the committee agreed it was reasonable to delay delinquency letters until after the ice-storm disruption. A lengthy discussion reviewed the next landfill permit expansion, with an expected 18-month state process, a professional-services estimate of about $60,000, possible added testing costs, and later county action still required under Jackson Law and related notice rules. The committee also discussed, but did not act on, a possible TDOT storm-debris disposal arrangement that appeared unlikely to move forward, and a proposed $30 fee structure to recover lien filing and release costs for exempt-property cases.

Solid Waste Committee · Meeting · Jan 5, 2026 The Solid Waste Committee approved its financials after reviewing $141,063.65 in December receipts, an $876,255.26 ending balance, repair-driven overruns that may require a later budget amendment, and an accounting fix tied to a required landfill-space survey. Members also discussed collections, including $1,040,940 billed, $845,887.60 collected, $242,486.65 still unpaid for the year, and a much larger backlog of $773,769.38 in older delinquent accounts, some of which staff said may be uncollectible. The committee voted to use the county attorney’s stronger demand letter for delinquent accounts of $500 or more, lowering the originally proposed threshold of $1,000 while noting staff will first screen accounts for collectibility. It also reversed an earlier surplus decision by keeping the 2014 Western Star and instead surplusing the 2005 Mack for auction because the older truck has more operational problems. No final action was taken on a proposed $30 late-penalty policy for exempt properties, which will return after legal review. In public comment, the committee voted to waive a resident’s late fee tied to a claimed missed mailing, and members also briefly heard a report on a break-in that resulted in the theft of $180 in petty cash and inmate lunch money.

Solid Waste Committee · Meeting · Apr 1, 2024 The Solid Waste Committee handled routine operations and reports, while the meeting’s longest and most contentious item was an informational presentation on a proposed regional landfill and industrial park in Hickman County. Residents who spoke were uniformly opposed, citing risks to the Duck River, Piney River, Taylor’s Creek tributaries, groundwater, truck traffic, road damage, property values, and the area’s natural character, and the committee took no vote on the concept. Presenters argued the early-stage project could eventually eliminate the county’s $90 annual solid-waste fee and generate about $23 million over 40 years, but said it would still require rezoning, a Jackson Law local-approval vote, and later state permitting and public hearings. In regular business, the committee reviewed ordinary tonnage and finance reports, noted that maintenance and lubricant budget lines are nearly depleted and may need amendments, and said a late-arriving ECD center bid package would be deferred until next month for review. Members also reviewed a draft 2024–2025 budget that assumes 5% raises, reported $4,700 collected on the first day of a penalty-amnesty period, and noted $3,526 in monthly profit from the Perry County transfer-station arrangement. The committee approved the annual state-required progress report by an 8–0 roll-call vote and approved the financial reports 8–0 as well.

Solid Waste Committee · Meeting · Apr 1, 2024 The committee’s most contentious discussion was an informational presentation on a proposed regional landfill and industrial park in Hickman County, which drew strong opposition from nearby residents over groundwater, tributaries, truck traffic, noise, property values, and protection of the Piney and Duck rivers and local wells. Presenters argued the project could address future landfill-capacity shortages, potentially eliminate the county’s $90 annual solid-waste fee, and generate about $23 million in host-fee revenue over 40 years, but the committee stressed that no vote was being taken and that any project would still need zoning action, Jackson Law approval, and later state permitting with multiple public hearings. In routine business, the department reported normal tonnage, budget pressure on maintenance and lubricant lines, a $3,526 monthly profit from the Perry County transfer arrangement, and $4,700 collected on the first day of a penalty amnesty period. A late value-engineered bid from Mack on the closed ECD center project was deferred to the next meeting because members had not had time to review it. The committee also discussed the draft FY 2024–2025 budget, including an assumed 5% employee raise that could require cuts elsewhere, and approved both the annual state progress report and the financial reports by 8–0 roll-call votes.

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