September 6, 2007
Norcal Sees Curbside Service Not Right for County

By Dave Maxwell

The controversial proposal of curbside garbage pickup service in most of the county by Norcal Waste Systems Crestline Landfill, Inc. is not going to work in the County, or at least it’s not going to be adopted. Tom Norris of Norcal told County Commissioners on Tuesday that the company realizes the idea is not something the people in the county want. The reason being that while curbside service was being offered, Norcal was also planning to close off the current city dump drop box facilities, especially for larger items, and open them only two times a year.

Norcal held public meetings in towns throughout the county for public comment and found that their plan was not agreeable to residents of the county. It was oft recognized in the meetings that residents weren’t going to hold their large items trash items until the open dates, but would most likely pile things up in front of the fence, or dump it off in open valleys and gullies around the county, which would only result in a colossal mess.

Norcal’s contract comes up for renewal on October lst. After reviewing financial statements provided to the Board by Norcal, and due to the absence of two Commission members, it was decided to table the discussion until the next Commission meeting September 17.

The contract with the County does allow Norcal to file for a rate increase for the amount paid by the County not to exceed 30 percent each year. Some members of the Commission have challenged the financial figures of profit and loss spoken of by Norcal in the contract renewal proposal and requested financial statements be presented for review. Lincoln County Assistant District Attorney Daniel Hooge noted at the meeting that Norcal wants to make $700,000 profit for the year of 2007-2008, but Norcal states that if the rate schedule to the county remains as is, they will only make about $424,000.

Hooge said that according to the current contract with Norcal if the County “agrees with their forecasting numbers, then we are obligated to give the 30 percent increase.” The County is taking the matter under review. A motion by Commissioner Paul Matthews was passed to put off further discussion until next meeting when the full Commission could be present.