Hickman County TN

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34

Solid Waste Committee · Meeting · Apr 6, 2026

Mon, Apr 6, 2026

Guides landfill operations, recycling, convenience centers, and collection policies for household and commercial waste across the county.

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Outline

This outline was generated by an LLM from a transcript and may contain errors or inaccuracies. Prefer the original recording when available.

The committee moved quickly through routine approvals, then spent most of the meeting on Solid Waste’s finances and a likely rate increase proposal. The core issue was that current fees no longer cover operating costs, equipment replacement, and rising disposal expenses. The director said the department can balance only by increasing the household fee to $120 and the tipping fee to $100 per ton (or some comparable combination), especially with Waste Management seeking a $4 per ton increase and Perry County likely taking its waste disposal business elsewhere. Members discussed whether to act now or force a future committee to deal with a near-empty fund balance and possible service cuts.

Other notable threads included a stronger collections report on delinquent accounts, recycling and tonnage updates, the risk of losing Perry County revenue, comparison data showing Hickman County near the low end of regional solid-waste charges, and blunt discussion that convenience centers would be the first likely cuts if rates stay unchanged.

Call to Order / Roll Call / Routine Approvals 3:14

  • 3:14 Chair called the meeting to order and said routine business would be handled quickly so Solid Waste Director Jordan Sachs could use the remaining time for budget discussion.
  • 3:22 Roll call was taken; members present included Jim Herron, Danny Clark, Matthew Barnhill, Dusty Jordan, Devin Pickard, Ricky Murray, and Becky (surname unclear from transcript).
  • 4:29 March minutes were presented from the packet.
  • 4:35 Minutes were approved without recorded controversy.
  • 7:26 Motion to approve the financial reports carried by roll-call vote.
  • 7:50 Roll-call vote on financials was unanimous, with yes votes from Jim Herron, Danny Clark, Matthew Barnhill, Steve Gianakos, Dusty Jordan, Devin Pickard, Ricky Murray, and Becky; motion passed.

Department / Official Reports

Trustee / Financial report 5:00

  • 5:00 Trustee report showed monthly earnings of $8,983.70.
  • 5:12 Current cash balance was reported as about $662,088.57.
  • 5:29 Notes projected ending the year with about $450,000.
  • 6:16 Revenue was said to be on track.
  • 6:50 Sachs said some expense lines still need cleanup and that a budget amendment later in the packet would address those issues.

Billing office / collections report 8:07

  • 8:07 Sachs introduced a newer billing-office report focused on delinquent solid-waste accounts.
  • 8:16 The office had sent a large batch of collection letters to people owing old solid-waste debt.
  • 8:23 Collections on old debt totaled $31,389 for the month.
  • 8:31 Old debt was reduced by 4.13%.
  • 8:38 Staff entered 24 monthly payment agreements, with average payments of about $100 per month.
  • 9:05 Current-year collections had improved, and the collection rate was said to be getting close to 90%.
  • 9:13 The current-year collection percentage increased about 2% over the month.
  • 9:44 Sachs said roughly 50 to 60 letters had been sent, producing 24 payment-plan signups.
  • 10:04 Sachs said $100 per month was the preferred minimum because it makes the debt more realistically collectible, though some flexibility was being used for people on fixed income.

Recycling / tonnage report 10:31

  • 10:31 Recycling figures mentioned included cardboard at 28.97 (likely tons, as presented in the report).
  • 10:39 Metal and transfer-station activity were also referenced, though the transcript does not clearly preserve the exact figures.
  • 11:33 Sachs said recycling was performing well compared with other counties and that more glass and aluminum would still be welcome.
  • 11:58 He said some materials now build into stockpiles until there is enough for a full load, especially glass.
  • 12:16 Overall tonnage continues to increase month after month.
  • 12:24 Sachs said the county is receiving more trash than ever before and that volumes keep growing.

Perry County disposal contract / external revenue 12:47

  • 12:58 Sachs reported that Perry County’s solid-waste director visited and said Perry County intends to put its disposal service out to bid.
  • 13:13 Perry County currently trucks its own waste with its own compactors, trucks, and employees, and Hickman County charges $60 per ton just to dump.
  • 13:36 For comparison, Hickman County’s own disposal arrangement with Waste Management is $48.89 per ton, with Waste Management handling pickup from the transfer station.
  • 14:09 Sachs said Hickman cannot bid below its own disposal cost without losing money.
  • 14:16 The floor price next year would be at least $53.89 per ton, based on Waste Management’s proposed new rate.
  • 14:30 Sachs said Waste Management could likely underbid Hickman at around $51 per ton because Perry County could dump directly at a landfill without Hickman’s added handling costs.
  • 14:59 Because of that risk, Sachs said he assumed in the upcoming budget that Perry County would not remain a customer.
  • 19:23 He reiterated that Perry County revenue was left out of the budget for safety, even though the current arrangement had been profitable.

Disposal contract pressure / landfill policy context 15:46

  • 15:46 Sachs said Waste Management had asked the county to assume a $4 per ton increase for budget planning because the current 5-year contract is ending.
  • 16:02 He said Waste Management was no longer interested in extending on the existing inflation-indexed terms and instead wants an immediate increase.
  • 16:25 The proposed renewed contract would set the rate at $53.89 per ton plus future index increases over another 5 years.
  • 16:42 Committee members recalled that earlier negotiations had been helped by the possibility of a local landfill, which had restrained Waste Management’s pricing.
  • 17:24 Sachs said House Bill 1510 had passed the House and, as described in the meeting, would designate the Duck River and listed tributaries in Hickman County in a way that bars a landfill within 2 miles of them.
  • 17:38 He said that would make roughly two-thirds of the county unavailable for landfill siting.
  • 18:00 Sachs noted that the county’s Jackson Law process still requires full county approval for any landfill.
  • 18:33 He said the existing landfill is about 3.1 miles from the Duck River, so the bill would not affect current operations or expansion plans.
  • 18:47 Sachs framed the bill as one more reason Waste Management may feel less competitive pressure than before.

New Business / Agenda Items

Budget outlook and recommended fee changes 19:48

  • 19:48 Sachs summarized current billing figures: current-year unpaid balance of about $213,951.14, current-year resolution rate of 89.72%, and old debt of about $727,828.18.
  • 20:18 He repeated that 24 new monthly payment plans had been created with a $100 minimum in most cases and that old debt fell 4.13% in the month.
  • 20:39 Sachs listed the major budget pressures: Perry County going out to bid, Waste Management increasing rates by $4 per ton, and diesel costs rising about 50%.
  • 21:11 He said the equipment reserve is not functioning adequately under the current structure.
  • 21:18 Sachs recommended a package to stabilize operations:
    • 21:18 Increase household fee to $120
    • 21:18 Increase tipping fee to $100 per ton
    • 21:18 Make an annual contribution of 10% to the equipment reserve
    • 21:27 Adopt replacement cycles of 14,000 hours for heavy equipment, 300,000 miles for trucks, and 20 years for Rush Runner trash compactors
    • 21:43 Require annual reauthorization of the household fee, tipping fee, and equipment reserve
  • 22:06 Sachs acknowledged there are many possible combinations of household-fee and tipping-fee changes that could also balance the budget.
  • 22:20 On whether $100 per ton would be unusually high, Sachs said nearby examples include Perry or Wayne at $100, Cedar Ridge at $98, and Middle Point at $170 per ton.
  • 22:50 He said if the county chose a lower tipping fee such as $75 per ton, then the household fee would need to rise to about $135 to balance the budget.
  • 23:28 Sachs said Hickman households currently effectively pay $90 per household for solid waste.
  • 23:37 He said the next cheapest county is Lewis at an equivalent $106 per household, even though Lewis’s nominal fee is $100 and it also uses local tax allocation.
  • 23:57 Sachs said Lewis has zero convenience centers.
  • 24:04 He said the average effective household solid-waste burden in comparable counties is about $145 per household, ranging from Hickman’s $90 to Perry County’s equivalent $231.
  • 24:20 On tipping fees, Sachs said Hickman and Lewis are tied at the lowest rate among bordering counties at $60 per ton.
  • 24:48 Members clarified that the tipping fee applies when material crosses the scales, replacing the current $60 per ton rate.
  • 25:07 Discussion clarified that the fee had once applied only to commercial haulers, but the committee or commission previously voted to apply scale charges more broadly.
  • 25:26 A prior threshold of 200 pounds per day was mentioned.
  • 25:32 Sachs said one idea would be to replace a weight-based allowance with “one pickup-truck load per day,” partly to address complaints that East convenience center users cannot dispose of unbagged lumber and similar material.
  • 26:17 Members asked whether businesses pay a household-style solid-waste fee; discussion suggested Hickman businesses do not currently pay such a separate fee.
  • 26:50 Sachs said some counties do charge commercial fees, but he favors a tipping-fee model because it ties business cost to use.
  • 27:15 He said a flat commercial fee could reduce the incentive for businesses to recycle.
  • 27:43 Members recalled that Hickman once had a commercial fee of about $150 when the residential fee was $90, and that it was removed in part to encourage recycling.
  • 28:23 Sachs acknowledged that a $100 per ton tipping fee could push some business elsewhere, but he also noted the county landfill is filling quickly and the county still needs to manage the budget responsibly.
  • 29:02 Sachs said state solid-waste officials had previously told directors that Hickman should be charging about $90 per ton, and that advice was given roughly nine months earlier.
  • 29:34 He said he chose the $120 / $100 combination rather than something like $130 / $75 because he thought the former might be easier to explain and administer, though he invited discussion.

Consequences of inaction / service-cut discussion 30:14

  • 30:14 A member asked directly what happens if the committee does not solve the problem now.
  • 30:23 Sachs said under the draft budget the fund balance would be down to about $5,000 by the end of next year, so if this committee does not act, the next one will effectively be forced to.
  • 30:43 Members noted the household fee has reportedly remained at $90 for about 30 years, and that prior directors had repeatedly warned the county would go broke without an increase.
  • 31:47 One member framed the household increase as only about $2.50 per month, arguing that the county has delayed too long while diesel, tires, wages, and all other costs have risen sharply.
  • 32:45 Sachs cited Perry County as an example of what happens when landfill expansion and equipment funding are deferred until the state forces corrective action.
  • 33:01 He repeated that Perry County’s equivalent cost has reached about $231 per household, arguing that delay is more expensive than acting now.
  • 33:18 Members discussed that some higher-cost counties also receive other revenue sources, such as local tax allocations in addition to fees.
  • 34:34 Sachs said he had prepared a draft resolution and was seeking sponsors.
  • 34:52 One member suggested that for election-conscious commissioners, it would help to clearly explain what solid-waste service would look like if rates remain at $90.
  • 35:10 Sachs answered plainly that the first likely cut would be convenience centers.
  • 35:24 He said convenience centers are the only part of the operation that does not make money; recycling and the landfill do make money.
  • 35:31 Sachs said by fiscal year 2028, if rates stay flat, the county’s choice would likely be either to raise the fee or decide which convenience centers to close.
  • 36:30 One member worried about residents already struggling to afford the $90 fee, while another noted that around 90% currently pay.
  • 37:04 Sachs said the matter is time-sensitive because the committee’s next meeting is on April 16, ahead of the county commission meeting.
  • 37:21 Members said the committee needs to “paint the picture” so commissioners understand the operational consequences.
  • 38:00 A member said he would sponsor the proposal, arguing that residents would otherwise spend the increase anyway in fuel and time driving farther if convenience centers close, while the county would also incur cleanup costs.

Spreadsheet demonstration / projected breakdown 42:45

  • 42:45 Sachs walked through the budget scenario at current rates of $90 household fee and $60 tipping fee.
  • 42:55 He said that under current rates and assumptions there would be a system breakdown because future equipment would not be funded and the fund balance would run out in 2028.
  • 43:47 He said the county is expected to end the current year with about $450,000.
  • 43:56 Under the next-year budget at current rates, that would fall to only about $7,000 by year end, assuming Perry County does not renew.
  • 44:14 Sachs said he had already cut another $244,000 from the budget, indicating there is limited room left to solve the problem through cuts alone.

Announcements 19:37

  • 19:37 The next regular meeting was announced for May 4, 2026.
  • 37:04 An additional committee date of April 16 was mentioned as relevant to moving the fee-resolution discussion forward before county commission.

Key figures and statistics

Figure Type Context / topic Timestamp
$8,983.70 Earnings Monthly trustee earnings 5:00
$662,088.57 Cash balance Current solid-waste cash balance 5:12
$450,000 Projected fund balance Expected year-end balance 5:29
$31,389 Collections Old solid-waste debt collected in the month 8:23
4.13% Debt reduction Monthly reduction in old debt 8:31
24 Payment plans New monthly agreements entered 8:38
$100 per month Payment amount Average monthly payment on agreements 8:43
90% Collection rate Current-year billing nearing this collection level 9:05
2% Collection increase Monthly gain in current-year collection percentage 9:13
50 to 60 Letters sent Collection letters mailed on old debt 9:44
28.97 Tonnage / recycling figure Cardboard reported in recycling section 10:31
$60 per ton Revenue rate Perry County disposal rate charged by Hickman 13:24
$48.89 per ton Disposal expense Current Waste Management hauling/disposal rate 13:36
$53.89 per ton Proposed disposal expense Waste Management proposed next-year rate 14:16
$51 per ton Competitive bid example Possible Waste Management bid to Perry County 14:30
$4 per ton Rate increase Proposed Waste Management increase 15:46
5-year Contract term Waste Management contract length 15:54
1510 Bill number House Bill discussed in landfill siting context 17:24
2 miles Setback distance Proposed landfill restriction from Duck River/tributaries 17:38
two-thirds Share of county County area said to be effectively unavailable for landfill siting 17:38
3.1 miles Distance Existing landfill distance from Duck River 18:33
$213,951.14 Receivable Current-year unpaid billing balance 19:57
89.72% Collection rate Current-year billing resolved by end of last month 20:04
$727,828.18 Receivable Total old debt still outstanding 20:10
50% Cost increase Diesel cost increase cited in budget pressure 20:48
$120 Fee proposal Recommended annual household fee 21:18
$100 per ton Fee proposal Recommended tipping fee 21:18
10% Reserve policy Annual contribution target to equipment reserve 21:18
14,000 hours Replacement cycle Heavy equipment replacement target 21:27
300,000 miles Replacement cycle Truck replacement target 21:27
20 years Replacement cycle Rush Runner compactor replacement target 21:35
$100 per ton Comparison rate Perry or Wayne County tipping fee example 22:20
$98 per ton Comparison rate Cedar Ridge tipping fee example 22:30
$170 per ton Comparison rate Middle Point tipping fee example 22:40
$75 per ton Alternative scenario Lower tipping fee tested in modeling 22:50
$135 Alternative fee Household fee needed if tipping fee were $75/ton 23:05
$90 per household Current fee Hickman effective household solid-waste fee 23:28
$106 per household Comparison fee Lewis County equivalent household fee 23:37
$100 Nominal fee Lewis County household fee before tax allocation comparison 23:44
$16 Equivalent amount Local tax allocation equivalent per Lewis household as described 23:50
zero Facility count Lewis County convenience centers 23:57
$145 per household Average fee Average equivalent household solid-waste burden in comparison set 24:04
$231 per household Comparison fee Perry County equivalent household cost 24:12
$60 per ton Current fee Hickman and Lewis tipping fee, tied lowest among bordering counties 24:20
200 pounds Allowance threshold Prior daily threshold discussed for convenience-center disposal 25:26
$150 Historical fee Prior commercial solid-waste fee recalled by members 27:43
$90 per ton State recommendation Tipping fee level state directors reportedly said Hickman should charge 29:02
9 months Time reference Approximate age of state recommendation 29:11
$5,000 Projected fund balance End-of-next-year balance if no corrective action 30:23
30 years Time period How long the household fee was said to have remained at $90 30:43
$2.50 per month Household impact Member’s characterization of the proposed increase 31:47
fiscal year 2028 Time horizon When convenience-center cuts or fee action would become unavoidable 35:31
90% Collection share Approximate share of residents currently paying 36:47
April 16 Meeting date Additional committee-related date before commission meeting 37:00
$90 Current fee scenario Household fee used in spreadsheet demonstration 42:45
$60 Current fee scenario Tipping fee used in spreadsheet demonstration 42:45
2028 Failure point Year fund balance would run out under current-rate scenario 42:55
$450,000 Starting balance Projected carryover into next fiscal year 43:47
$7,000 Projected fund balance Next-year ending balance under current-rate scenario 43:56
$244,000 Budget cuts Additional amount Sachs said had already been cut from the budget 44:14