Grant County Commission addresses changes in solid waste processes
By Mary Alice Murphy
At the Grant County Commission work session on Tuesday, August. 11, 2026, along with other items discussed, commissioners spent the most time on Resolution R-26-40, as part of the review of what would they would approve or disapprove at the regular meeting.
At the work session, County Manager Charlene Webb moved to review of Resolution 2640. T"his is a resolution directing publication of notice of meeting and intent to adopt ordinance O-26-02 Solid Waste Collection Disposal and Piece Ordinance of the County of Grant New Mexico. Tis resolution is is a notice of intent to consider the adoption of a solid waste ordinance. What this ordinance does is it repeals the current ordinance, which was adopted in 19990-27 years ago. What this ordinance does is it cleans up many many sections of that ordinance that are not applicable at this time. "The operations of the Solid Waste Authority also cleans up some areas for code enforcement, and it also, in Section 10, provides language for the board to establish a system of fee-by-resolution, saying that you have the authority to set the fee-by-resolution regularly. not in the ordinance."
She said the ordinance provides the same system for liens as the county currently does for those who do not pay the monthly payments.
"Just reiterating again, it is you're adopting and reviewing an ordinance that gives you the authority to adopt fees by resolution, not through the more complicated system of approving an ordinance.," Webb clarified. "This is your first step. This is just your notice of intent. So, if you're giving a public notice that you intend to consider this ordinance, this will be on the September 10th agenda for you to consider adoption of the ordinance.
District 5 Commissioner Thomas Shelley said he had quesions. "So I understand the only what we're going to act on on Thursday is the resolution of notice of intent to adopt the ordinance. My first question is related to this term that's used, habitable, habitable property. Is that well understood terminology that's in our current ordinance?"
Webb said it was not in the current ordinance, but it clears up some issues in the current ordinance.
Shelley asked for confirmation that the ordinance does bit orioles feels,
Webb agreed that it does not propose fees, and that in section 10, it states that the board will set the fees by resolution. She said she would have a resolution prepared once she clears up some more numbers." I'm not there yet, but it allows you to set those fees by resolution. So, for example, when you have the CPI increases, or if there's any more increases from a solid waste ability that would cause you to have to raise rates, then you have the ability to do that by resolution rather than by ordinance. "If that fee language was contained in the ordinance, then you would be required to amend your ordinance every single time you wanted to change the price. So it just gives you the ability to react to current conditions and language in this ordinance that allows you to do so by resolution."
Speaker 6 1:49:06
"Great. That answers several questions., Shelley said. "And then, do you have a ballpark idea of the price increase? There's a lot of things we need to fix in our county solid waste management activities. The thing that we really need to understand is okay, and what is the county's actual cost if we're going to make changes to to do these things, and then what would the fees need to be to cover that? I understand you're working on helping us understand that. I'd like it to be something if we can.
"I want us to be really transparent for the public to see. Hey, this is our cost, and we either are or aren't collecting right now. And here's what we would need to change it to in order to cover them. So I know you're going to work on that. Is this something that you anticipate we would first pass this or get public input on on the draft ordinance, and then on September 10 we would pass it?
Webb replied: "I won't have the fee structure to you before that, but I will tell you based on the rates that we are going to be charged, we are not generating near enough. The fees are going to go up. It's going to take more GRT than what we've been utilizing. We have a fund outlet in there now, but the fees will have to go up. And what I'm working with Jason (Lockett, Public Works Department director) now, so I understand what had been made very clear from the public, and being a taxpayer myself and paying fees, I understand that if my fees are going to go up, then I want to see improvements to our service."
She said plans include an addition of compactors which are available 24/7 throughout the county. "Jason has identified several sites for them. We're also making some improvements to the current transfer stations in Mimbres and Gila. They're not exactly suitable for the public, nor for the attendant to be working there. So we're making some improvements there, providing new quarters for attendants, including some electrical work that we have to do, generator at the Cliff station. He's also identified and worked awith a landowner in Mule Creek for a more accessible location there. Compactortor in Buckhorn, compactor in Cliff. Solid Waste Authority has increased the days that the Hatchia station is open. We're making improvements to the Mimbres station, also installing a compactor there, so they will have the transfer station and also the ability to use the compactor. "
Lockett said: "We are planing a compactor in Pinos Altos, too. Some of this preparation for the improved services you're describing is already underway. "
District 1 Commissioner and Chair Chris Ponce said: "Part of me says, do we get a list of where they're going to be? Do we get a list of where you want them to come in? Does the public also? Will the public have an opportunity also to to discuss? You know what? Residents will said: 'You guys put it way over here, and the majority of the residents live here,' or 'You know, hey, this isn't working for us. Move it.'"
Webb said a map that's been provided. "Solid Waste Authority is going to put the compactors into wherever they need to be. We we have to increase the solid waste fee. We we've got to bolster up our solid waste system in the county. It's moving forward. The other the other piece that I need to mention that you will also have to consider is we also will be considering and working within Solid Waste Authority with Solid Waste Authority's attorney right now. So there will also be an agreement between the county and the Solid Waste Authority, outlining what the fees are, what the services are, what they will provide, what our responsibilities are, so that we're not 100% reliant on the very vague language that is contained in the Joint Power Agreement. Wee are a member of the Joint Power Agreement, which has established the Solid Waste Authority, but this is a another agreement that is between Solid Waste Authority and Grant County, outlining the detail of the services, the level of the services, which gives you that extra layer of transparency that you just mentioned to the public. I ask for some language, some out language, in the event that the county chooses to not be a member of a Solid Waste Authority somewhere down the line. So we've been working diligently, trying to make sure that we cover all aspects of concerns that you have shared, giving us that extra layer of accountability with the Solid Waste Authority, with that agreement, and I hope to have that in front of you at your second meeting this month. So still working through some little minor English changes on the oridnance, and I should have that back, hoping today. As soon as I have that, I will send that to you. And as soon as I can articulate the funding that we have, the GRT, what the rates will be to the public, you know, the money we're generating, our expenses, get that broken down in a manner that makes sense to someone else other than me, I will get that to you. So that's that's been my my major project, and I'll add it to the goal as this week."
Shelley replied: "I know this is a heavy lift, and it takes a lot of time and thought. Okay, so back to habitable units. These are the units that are going to becharged the fee, correct? A habitable unit, and what if if there's multiple units on a property, then each habitable unit?"
Webb explained that there is an account per household. "That is what we call it now. But so that is how we are billed is by account. So you'll also see that there's a waiver. Someone can submit a waiver for uninhabitable properties. So right now we bill for every account, whether you can live in the home or not."
" I happen to like that they are applying for an uninhabitable dwelling because then that gives us some more ammunition with code enforcement that maybe we have uninhabitable dwellings that need to be addressed that we weren't aware of. So they want to waive their fees for an uninhabitable dwelling, then that's something that we can also look at from our other ordinances to enforce those that are throughout the county.
Shelley said: "So we all get more money, but concerns that I've heard from constituents about, 'hey, this property owner now has a bunch of RVs installed there, and are they meeting all the criteria for waste management, et cetera? Well, that's a follow-up question that each of those could potentially be a habitable unit that a property would be receive a fee for?"
Webb replied that the county only charges for those that are on the books with records at in the Assessor's Office. "So those those RVs that you're referencing, and (District 4 Commissioner Eddie) Flores has mentioned this, and I have been working with Luna County on theirs. They're making some. I've spoken with their county manager, and they've encountered some enforcement issues with their current ordinance. So I know that they're they're working through some things there, and that'll be something for you to. Maybe in the future is an ordinance related to those RVs, and we have a problem with that as well. But when I did reach out to Mr. (Chris) Brice, he did mention that there were some some challenges around that, and I don't I don't want to put an ordinance in front of you that you're uncomfortable with."
Se continued that the county will use the list that our solid waste department obtained from the assessor's office of all the dwellings within the county, and that becomes our first number of accounts that we go for. So it comes from the assessor's office based on their records. That's what the Solid Waste Department will go for."
In the case of a disagreement from someone, "this is a solid waste program. A document when there's any appeal, it comes to the Commission So any appeal to any of these application for waivers, if they're dissatisfied with each level of decision, then eventually it will come to you for decision," Webb replied
Shelley said: "I've been contacted by several service providers who pick up waste from people, and they complain about unfair fees, duplicate fees, or whatever. Can you tell us how this addresses that question?"
Webb said that will be a new agreement and in the ordinance, so the practice moving forward, what has happened is the county's been paying the bill for the service providers. "So for them to say that there's anything unfair is kind of shocking to me because that is part of the tipping fees that we get billed for. So I know that Universal Waste has addressed some of that. I'm not sure exactly how we have to speak to that, but we were the ones paying the bill for that, which shouldn't be the case. And so what will happen moving forward is those private haulers will have to pay the tipping fees when they cross the scales at the landfill, those will no longer come to us. So, what this is doing for us, and the language in this agreement is it simplifies everything for the county. So right now, we get a bill that that Rachel at Solid Waste has to go through line by line by line to determine whether or not whoever you are at the landfill is a bona fide resident or not. Then we get hauling fees, we get tipping fees, we have that debt, all of those things. So it cleans it up to where we will receive a Solid Waste Authority for so many dollars per account. We won't have a bill, and so those accounts are based upon our records that we provide. The records come from the assessment office's property records. So we are confident that that should be accurate. That's exactly how it works in Lincoln County, which you guys heard how that system works. That list is provided. That's how that process starts. We look at that quarterly. But we will get a bill from the Solid Waste Authority for X amount of dollars per account, and that's what we can. No more of these fluctuating common fees. No more fluctuating tipping fees. We know this is what our price is going to be.
"And if a resident, one of our habitable units, single family units, hires because they don't want to do what I do," Shelley said. " I haul my own trash. But if they choose to contract with someone, then I'm not quite clear. Are they still going to pay the county fee on top of what they pay to the contractor?"
Webb replied emphatically: "Yes, yes. Because what you're paying, so you have to look at what you're paying. What your monthly fee is paying for is the operation of the landfill, so that we have a landfill in our county for newtrash to go to. It will also pay for compactors. It's also paying for transfer stations. All of the available lands."
" So I will use myself as an exampl," Webb said. "I pay Gila Sanitation $35 a month, and I walk my trash out and put it in my bin, and they come and pick it up every Thursday. I choose to continue to pay that while I pay my solid waste fees in the county because there may come a time where yes, I'm going to need to use a transfer station, or maybe in the future I will choose to use a compactor, and I will stop using the contractor. I doubt it. But so, if you choose as a private citizen to to use that service, then yes, you're going to pay for both. And what I think we need to make sure that we explain to the public is this is for countywide solid waste systems. So if we don't if we don't pay Solid Waste Authority y enough money to offset the costs of providing solid waste collection in the county, we're not going to have a landfill.
Ponce said: " You're you're pointing out a really important point, which I think will be clarified if somehow we can publish or make it available how this works, and that by paying this fee, that this is what we need to do to meet today's standards for disposing of waste that otherwise can create a mess, and and this is the proper way to do it. This is what it costs. Now, if you want to hire additional services, so you don't have to buy a truck and haul trash yourself. When I do haul trash myself, I'll pay tipping fees."
Shelley said he knew that a lot of the problems that all these landfills have is contractors. "The only thing I would like to do is sit down with somebody and look at the solid waste budget because I heardsome stories that things got increased and there was no need to. There was really no need to increase them, but at the end of the day, I see this, and Yeah, we need to,"
District 3 Commissioner Nancy Stephens, who along with Commissioner Flores serves on the Solid Waste Authority Board, said the authority represents all the municipalities, the town, and the county through this joint powers agreement. "This is the entity charged with maintaining our solid waste collection and landfill. And I've been chair for it a little less than a year, and I've learned a lot. And I just want to make a couple points.
"It is true that the authority's budget, which we submitted when the county submitted their budget, it was passed unanimously and it doubled." Stephens confirmed. So the authority's budget doubled, and what that pretty much means is that the rates are doubling, and we sent out letters to the municipalities, letting them know of that. And yes, that is like a big shock and a big change. But as to whether or not that increase was needed, yes, it was needed. Nobody wants to, you know, charge more than is necessary. But the fact is, is we haven't increased rates for almost 30 years at the county level, and and there has not been planning for contingencies like equipment breakdown. On multiple instances this past year, we've had to borrow equipment from Universal Waste. Fortunately, they're a big enough operation that they have it. But we don't have any backup equipment, so if a scraper goes down, then our operation would come to a halt unless we had the ability to borrow this equipment. And then I also want to point out that yes, a double budget is a shock. But if we had only increased by the consumer price index each year, I looked it up and it sounds like the average is 3.2 percent. So over 30 years, it's a 96 percent increase, or basically a doubling of the budget. Also, we at the authority really do take our job seriously, and we don't want to waste taxpayer dollars. We had Lawrence Maldonado, who is in charge of solid waste management for the city of Albuquerque, provide an independent review and a detailed budget analysis of the budget that we submitted, and they actually found that even the new budget is minimally adequate to meet the needs according to industry standards. And then we also have an attorney who reviewed our contract with Universal Waste and also our budget, and found that at 20 percent, the authority is paying less than industry standards of 30 to 15 percent for solid waste management. Also, the authority is supposed to have a 1/12th reserve, and we have not been in compliance with that. We also haven't had the ability to take on any debt, any additional debt, because we maxed out our debt capacity and financial assurance. We're obligated to have that.
"We haven't had that, so things have not been in good shape until recently," Stephens continued. "We've been trying to chip away, you know, and and improve not just our finances but also services like Manager Webb said with the contractors and just across the board. We we have funding right now. We're doing cell construction on cell 9b and C, and then we have a Colonias award for cell 9d, and that that can take us like 10 years into the future instead of just trying to scrape by month by month and see if we have space. And then I also wanted to let you all know that as proof that the board takes our responsibility seriously, we are having a board retreat to go over that joint powers agreement and our roles, and responsibilities as an entity. And we're also going to go over budget line items. And the budget is public record, so absolutely people can review the budget. And we're doing that so that we can better answer questions from the public about increases. I think that's pretty much it. Just that we are committed to following best practices for state procurement and really just welcome questions."
To a question about how much weight an account was allowed, Flores replied: "It was 2000 pounds. It was a ton. Like you said, Mr. Chair, a lot of people were contractors that were using it. Folks are also using someone's address to go. Colleagues ask for an address. They don't ask for ID, and that obviously caused some problems. The average weights, according to a study that was done by Universal Waste is, is probably under between 200 and 300 pounds a month. So you still give them doing over that 500, and that sort of reduces to begging somebody to 'hey, let me use your address.'. But it's going to affect them when they want to have something, people understand that because 2000 pounds of weight is a lot for a household. The other thing with the industry standards is areas such as ours. You know, we're looking at $28 to $30 an hour a month, but folks, you know. counties are paying 50 to $60 a month, and we're still below what they're supposed to be charging. The budget reviewer that district filed with one bill, all all the notable outbreaks, he said the budget should be $6 million, not $4 million. So you are at a minimum of 4 million. And the the biggest thing, County Manager Webb talked about it, is that if we don't increase, then we have to close landfill. If we close the landfill, folks are really going to get upset because they're going to go somewhere further to dump their trash. A lot of people are going to do that. Then we're going to have to deal with county's code enforcement. (Code enforcement Officer Brwn) Aguirre's going to deal with illegal dumping throughout the county because people are just going to pick a place and dump everything, and that's going to cause more problems. It's going to incur more costs, especially if we're dealing with things such as hazmat, because then we have to have a hazmat team come out and pick up. It's just crazy what people throw away. But that's what we look at."
To a question about a section of the ordinance that says the county will provide a container, Webb said she had left the container language in the event the the county should choose to provide that service, which some counties to. "But the container can be a roll off bin or a compactor or a large bin that gets dropped at your neighborhood for an overall collection of yard waste. I left that language in there so that this ordinance would be suitable for many years in the future. But what they're asking is that any time that you put something in any container, references any container that you you use to reduce your waste can be no more than four foot a week. Say you have a refrigerator box. Please compact that down to quarters.
One of the commissioner asked: "So let's go back to the scenario where somebody,, because we all probably have a little need to get rid of stuff before Mr. Aguirre comes to visit us, and so we're going to go over the 500 pounds at some point. Can you explain how that's how that's going to be billed? So, are we going to keep doing a bill, and how's that going to happen going forward? And then, well, I know that's going to happen. It's going to the fees going to increase, but so we're going to get a bill similar to what we do today for our normal waste management bill."
Ponce noted that his account is his physical address, but he does not get mail at that address. "I don't want a lien on Chris' property."
Webb said that was some of the language that she was working to get clarified.
Ponce said another thing he would like to say: We have two board members on there, is you know at the end of the day, I feel comfortable in what's happening with this ordinance. I do get a lot of questions about the budget that I can't answer. But I'm hoping that both of you can can every year when the budget is coming up to we do it could be a good time also to look at the weeds and I'm not saying raise them every year but start looking at it, okay? This year we're okay. I'll take ownership of it. I sat up here almost eight years. Yes, here we are from 1999 no doing what we needed to. So all of a sudden, here we are.I would appreciate if this discussion takes place every budget year to see what if there has to be an increase or not."
Stephens replied: "That's well said, Chairman, and we are committed as the authority to going with the CPI, the Consumer Price Index, each year, so that we don't have to have another huge leap like this. So this will catch us up to industry standards where we should be, and then each year do the consumer price index, which would be on average 3%."
Ponce said: "I understand it's needed, but you have some folks out there and their income is fixed. When I first ran for Grant County Commissioner, I sat at an elderly lady's home. I was doing some door knocking, and she showed me, you know, telling me about at the end of the month, she had $3.97, something like that, to do for the rest of the month.That's really concerning to me. I know it has to be done. I understand we'll take it to them, or it's going to close down. But you know, I feel bad when I'm speaking for myself as a commissioner that we didn't look at this eight years ago, and you know that that's on me."
District 2 Commission Eloy Medina had one final question: "Occasionally, I hear from county residents that this is going to be a big topic, right? And there's probably going to be a lot of public comment. We have a plan. Not that I want to have more meetings, but some people can't down during the day and we talked about this, and how do we get their feedback and input, and with respect toward our community members, give them a chance to weigh in on everything?
Stephens said: "They're welcome to call me and email me and meet with me if they want. I welcome anybody to reach out, and that is part of the reason why we're having this retreat to go line by line over the budget, so we can really answer questions and and be prepared. And I really like your idea of you know sharing the locations of the compactors. And what comes to mind for me is we need a flyer, like a brochure that says here's where the compactors are, here's what's going to happen if you're over 500 pounds, like some little frequently asked questions. So I'm going to work on that. And I remember the other thing that I was going to mention in response to your comments about people complaining where the copactors are located. We attempted to utilize land that we already own. So, there's not an additional cost to incur. The one in Mule Creek would be just shifting from one one landowner to another. But we tried to be very strategic and utilize county-owned land, so that you're not changing to enter into these agreements with funders."
Webb said she believes the topic deserves more public input. "It's up to the commission. I mean, I know we have the public one that's the hearing but if you come up with another meeting time, meeting day, or evening, we will set it up."
Medina said: "I appreciate what you said about the about the individuals living on fixed incomes. I'm very compassionate about that. It's very challenging when you have an individual come tell you that this is my last $2. You're exactly right. One of the problems that municipalities also face is the CPI. We also they also face the CPI for water services and everything else. So by the time it said, you know, you say 3%, just 3% you know, that could be $1, another $1 , but I mean, top of that, $7 with the municipalities, it's getting up there. The prices are getting up there, and just being really diligent on making sure that we don't see thiswhere put them where they have to pick between garbage services and a meal."
Stephens noted: "I just want to also say that the authority does typically meet third Wednesdays at three, and there is a public input section all of those meetings."
At the regular meeting on Aug. 13, more discussion centered on this topic.
Webb said: "This is the resolution that provides your notice of intent to consider the ordinance."
Medina asked the : "In the event that we don't have this taken care of by the start of September, I understand when they hear when they vote the new rates. How is that going to impact the county if we're not ready document-wise and everything-wise?
Webb replied: "If we don't get all of these items in place, we're going to be charged the increased amount of fees. And that's about $20,000 for us. I don't know what that exact amount is at this point, but it's it's no different than the other increases we've received over the years. We are currently a part of the Joint Powers Agreement with the Authority. The Southwest Solid Waste Authority has the authority to increase those rates. The agreement that I mentioned on Tuesday is an extra layer. It gives us it spells out things in a clearer fashion the big instance in the JPA. As I mentioned, there's one one section that I just need a little more clarification on, and I'll have that ready for you to go ahead with this month. But I would encourage you to to think about entering into an agreement that has a business plan out to go in as a provider if we chose outlines our responsibilities, waste responsibilities. fees will be all of those things. What this does, what the ordinance does, is it replaces the antiquated ordinance of 1999, brings us more to what is happening currently, and also gives you that ability to set fees in the future."
Ponce said: "I know the other day you mentioned that this was one of your top three projects on your desk. Are we going to have it wrapped up by September?"
"Hopefully, so. as we have scheduled this for your consideration on the 10th to adopt the ordinance, and then it will have the agreement in front of you on the 27th agenda,"Webb said. "There is a 14 day period for you to receive public input on the increase, so it doesn't require us to to take public input on the increase."
Shelley said the publication of notice raised a question for him
"How long does it have to be publicly noticed in whatever?
Webb said the time frame will be met is it is before the commission again on August 17, so 15 days. "My understanding is one of our commissioners wanted maybe some public input and some discussion from the public in a in a setting that's going to take a little time. So I mean, unless they're scheduled and I'm in agreement with that, that's going to take some time, also. But anyway, I mean, we can get to that piece, and we decide to do this.
She also if anyone wanted to do something differently in the ordinance, the commissioners needed to take action that day to amend the language, because the language is what you will have for the your public hearing and to consider the adoption of the ordinance on September 10th. So, I'm not sure if your concern is around the language in the ordinance or fees, and if you want to change or you want to change, you can have as many public opinions as you want. But right now, it states that you will you have a public hearing on the 10th. But we can try. Mr. Shelley, what are your thoughts on this? I mean,
Shelley replied he I understand the ordinance just like they have had public hearings, but the communication of it I see in the process we've discussed so far that for sure now that we're announcing this by this resolution today, make it and consider it. But on on September 10, we're not going to be considering a resolution on fees at that point .
"There's not much time, and I'd like to do this now, while our county manager is here with us, and but this gives notice to the public, and I think it will generate some people coming in here for public comment in our next meetings between now and certainly on that date," Shelley said. "And I think that's good. The only problem I see is that it's going to be from nine a.m. until you know 11 or something like that, and that may not be convenient for people who work. So I think we need to consider a few ways, like open up some portal where people can provide comment and try to advertise that maybe through us, but also consider having a public meeting at maybe right after September 10th. I just think it's going to be something that we need to give our community a chance to comment on it."
Webb said they could schedule some extra public hearings. "The more opportunity you give the public to comment on this, just be more transparent, so that we can give them extra opportunities to comment on the ordinance itself, because that's what you're probably inputting on the ordinance itself. Then when you consider, so then the next step will be considering the agreement between the county and the solid waste authority. The last thing we will do is adopt the resolution setting the fees. You want to get feedback from the public, so that is requiring 14-day comment period on your proposed rate change."
Shelley said he understood the September 10th date. He made a suggestion to spilt the meeting and come back at six.
"I think what I would like to understand is the concern primarily of what you want the input on the greatest concern from citizens, the fees. Is that that what we're mostly concerned about?" Attorney Ben Young asked. "The way the ordinance is structured, and as the county manager laid out, the hearing the morning of September 10 is for the ordinance. So that is the enacting law to say, hey, this is what we are fixing on moving forward. The provision in there to adopt a resolution will assess the fee, so you can have hearings, multiple hearings, town halls after the adoption of the ordinance in order to gather that input on fees.
"If what you're hearing from the public isn't necessarily concerns about the ordinance itself, because that's an important update that needs to happen," Young continued. "I think most people are in agreement with the solid waste changes in our law, and that's that's one level of meeting. Then we want to take into greater consideration from what I'm gathering is the resolution of the fees. So, absolutely, between now and the 10th, you can have another agenda item on your next meeting this month to gather more input as it relates to the ordinance itself. Maybe people will come in and talk about the fees as well at that point. But then move forward with the regular hearing as you did with the the bond measure this morning for that for the ordinance, and then schedule out additional hearings, town halls for the resolution on the fees."
Medina concurred that probably the most controversial part will be the fees. "However, there there could be questions about the ordinance itself, but we are giving notice on the the hearing, but maybe there's a way to publicize it. Could we have a way for people to provide written comments on the ordinance itself.
A question was asked on whether, if they receive written comments, would someone have to read each one in the hearing?
It was explained that there are a number of different ways in that you can open it up to written comment and say it will be welcomed. The the one significant issue with that in connection with the public hearing component is that that written comment submitted prior to the public hearing are not submitted under under oath. But comments in writing on the fees are welcomed and then the commissioners could decide whether or not to read it into the record for the meeting minutes. Webb said to note that whether it's the clerk or Mary Ray that's received them, "that we received 17 emails from different individuals. They've been distributed to the commission for review and consideration, and that that can also be adequate. It it really depends on how you would like to do that."
Shelley commented that most people just want to be heard.
Webb suggested that the county could also add a public input on the next meeting in August for additional input on the ordinance, if you would like to.
It was agreed to, although some people might want to discuss the ordinance and other the fees. Webb said there could be comment on either or both of them.
Stephens said she felt the need to summarize "what I think is happening. So today we're doing notice of intent for the ordinance, which will allow us to set the rates by resolution. We're not doing anything with rates today. This is just the required notice for September 10, when we're going to vote on our ordinance, and we welcome input anytime. I welcome input anytime regarding anything having to do with the solid waste authority. I spoke with (Executive Assistant) Mary Ray (McDonald) about accepting input virtually so people can do it at their convenience. I like that idea. I think that way people know they can come on the 10th. We could also schedule another public hearing after the 10th, and we could also accept it virtually through some portal or some mechanism that I think we have ideas for. And then on August 27th, our next official meeting is when we'll be looking at the agreement with the authority between the county and the authority, municipalities, and the town and the county all have a separate agreement with the authority. And then the fees will probably be the most controversial thing. And after the ordinance is passed, the soonest we would probably have a resolution to increase the fees would be at our September 24th meeting. That would be the soonest we would actually have a resolution that would say what those fees are going to be. And so I think as long as we have input between now and that date, then I feel like we're honoring our public trust for transparency. That's my understanding."
Ponce said he just wanted to make sure that they honor Commissioner Shelley's wishes as far as the public input on some of that because it does affect tem, and I sure would like to hear a lot from the public, probably after the ordinance is passed.
Medina said he knows that the municipalities have also invited Commissioner Stephens and Ernie Byers their meeting. So there's going to be the opportunity to voice their opinions there as well. "I know it may not get to the commissioner's ears on that day, but we're going to open up time for everybody. I mean, the city of Bayard, Santa Clara and Hurley are all opening up time for public comment, and I know it's all around the fees. Commissioner Stephen that she said she's going to be there. So I know that they're going to be attending these meetings as well, and that's another opportunity because most of these meetings are out 4:30, 5:30, 6:00 in the evening."
The resolution of the notice of intent to proceed with the public hearing and adoption of the county solid waste ordinance on Sept. 10, 2026 was approved unanimously at the Aug. 13, 2026 regular meeting
