Marion County supervisors spent Monday vetting bids for the probable purchase of new garbage trucks as the county prepares to take over garbage collection from a private firm.
The Board met in special session to review packets submitted and discuss the specifications.
“From here, they’ll be invited to bid in the new online reverse auction process,” County Board Attorney Joe Shepard said. “They’ll be invited to participate in the auction that is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday.”
Supervisors Terry Broome, Calvin Newsom and Raymon Rowell were present as were Shepard, Chancery Clerk Cass Barnes, Eddie Ray Breakfield, who handles the county’s insurance, and Dustin Jones of Sansom, one of the companies competing for the bids, as Shepard opened the packets.
Six companies submitted proposals: Burroughs Company, Ingram Equipment, Empire Truck Sales, Truckworx, Sansom and Waters International Trucks Inc. Each company submitted several trucks for consideration.
“The Kenworth seems to meet or exceed all of you specifications,” Shepard said as the group looked over the packets.
“This one doesn’t seem to meet the specs,” Broome told Shepard as he handed one packet back to the attorney.
The city and county both began contracting with Red River Waste Solutions in 2013 because the municipalities' aging equipment was driving up costs, but there have been complaints about spotty service and price increases. In 2016, Red River was replaced by Waste Pro. City and county officials raised fees last year to $15 per house per month to accommodate rising expenses.
New state regulations took effect on Jan. 1 for the way counties, municipalities and school districts make major purchases, such as garbage trucks. An online reverse auction is now required. Wednesday’s auction, which took place after press deadlines, was to be the first time that Marion County conducted the process.
Broome said with bids coming in May, it is likely the trucks wouldn’t arrive until September.
“We hope to switch the service over then,” he said. “But it may be the end of the year before everything is done.”
Pictured Above: Chancery Clerk Cass Barnes, foreground, left, and County Board Attorney Joe Shepard open bid packets Monday as District 5 Supervisor Calvin Newsom, left, and District 2 Supervisor Terry Broome look over the details. | Photo by Mark Rogers
