“I've got a feeling we've been ripped off,” said Logan County Magistrate Dickie Carter, adding he apologized to the citizens of the county for not keeping up with solid waste pickup prices.

County Solid Waste Coordinator Debbie Nelson presented countywide franchise specifications to Fiscal Court Tuesday at a special called meeting held to approve the plan.

The court agreed several months ago to look into a countywide franchise plan for trash pickup services with the intent to lower monthly costs to customers.

There are currently two providers in the county for solid waste pickup services. Waste Management and Waste Connections (Scott) which both currently charge around $16.50 per month for residential service.

“That's what happens when you don't have a franchise agreement,” said Nelson regarding Carter's comments. Nelson said she agreed that Logan County is among the highest charged areas for waste services. Nelson, who began working as Logan County's Solid Waste Coordinator this year, has said from the beginning of her service that the county needs an agreement to drive down the cost to customers.

The idea of a countywide franchise agreement began years ago with previous coordinator Denny Harris. The idea fell by the roadside, however, only to be taken seriously in recent months.

Nelson said a franchise agreement would cause competition between contractors which would lower prices. She said another good reason to have an agreement is it will limit the number of trash trucks on Logan County's roads. She said if the county has one provider than there will be less wear and tear on the roads plus the roads would be safer.

The agreement includes all non-incorporated areas of the county along with Auburn, Adairville and Lewisburg. The city of Russellville declined to participate, claiming the city would not generate enough revenue that they were currently receiving from Waste Management through franchise fees.

The plan has changed over the past few months allowing each city to bid out its own fee requests. Auburn is asking for a 3 percent administrative fee on residential service and 5 percent on commercial. Auburn's is also asking for a 10 percent franchise fee. Adairville and Lewisburg are asking for the same with 3 percent administration, 5 percent on commercial and a 7 percent franchise fee.

Magistrate Ranny Adler said he didn't think the county should charge an administrative fee, claiming there wouldn't be any additional administrative duties. Magistrates Carter, Harold Prince and Curtis Watkins agreed. Adler said he would vote for the plan but was planning on bringing up the 3 percent next. The franchise agreement specifications passed with a four to three vote with Magistrates Harold Prince, Carter and Watkins voting no. They then voted not to charge the 3 percent fee, saying it was their objective to lower the cost of pickup and not to generate money for the county.

Judge/executive John Guion voted against dropping the fee now. He said he wanted to wait until the bids come back. He said if the court sees that the bids are too high then they could take off the fee. Guion said it is his experience that there are costs to the county with a franchise agreement.

The three cities participating haven't received a franchise fee in the past with their contracts. The fees they are asking for will go towards repairing the streets and for billing the service. The county will not be billing for the non-incorporated areas. The city of Russellville recently renewed its contract with Waste Management and is currently receiving a 10 percent franchise fee.

Carter said he was concerned about the bidding process. He asked Nelson what would happen if providers bid the cities and the non-incorporated areas of the county differently. Nelson said that would probably happen. Carter asked what would happen if the cities were lower with one bidder and the county was lower with another. He asked how the contract would be awarded.

Nelson said that would be up to the franchise committee. “If you didn't like the bids you could throw them out and rebid,” said Nelson, who didn't really think there would be that much difficulty.

Magistrate Adler said the cities are always going to be cheaper. Nelson agreed, saying it depends on how far they have to travel to pick up the trash.

Nelson said she is contacting providers to bid out the service which include but not limited to Waste Management, Waste Connections (Scott), Monarch (Republic) and Waste Industries.

Nelson said she is also going to ask for a 75 cents per ton charge to the awarded provider who picks up trash in the county but takes it out of the county.