Interlocal agreement with city of Spokane needs to pass City Council scrutiny first
When Todd Ableman, Cheney’s public works director, first read a media report that the city had decided to return to using a large portion of the Spokane County regional trash system they originally opted out of, his first reaction was a form of “not so fast.”
Cheney officials have reached an understanding with the city of Spokane on a proposed interlocal agreement to haul the city’s solid waste to Spokane’s Waste to Energy Plant, located 12 miles away on Geiger Boulevard. Cheney currently hauls its trash to the plant as part of a 25-year regional agreement with Spokane and other cities and jurisdictions in Spokane County.
That agreement is ending this November, as Spokane has ceded control of the transfer stations and regional collection system to the county while retaining ownership of the West Plains incinerator. Spokane County is purchasing the system’s two transfer stations for $9.9 million.
The county is attempting to get other jurisdictions to sign agreements with it to continue using the regional system. Cheney has had its own system for several years, incorporating curbside pickup in 2010. It recently installed the final piece regarding household hazardous waste disposal, receiving state Department of Ecology approval of its solid waste plan this summer.
Cheney balked at the county’s proposed tipping fee — the amount paid at the Waste to Energy plant to dispose of solid waste — of $98.50 a ton because that price included all the services the city was providing.
“All we’re asking for is a disposal cost,” Ableman said.
In considering disposal options, the city looked at hauling trash by truck or rail to landfills in Central Washington. The city also looked at the Waste to Energy Plant if it could get the same tipping fee as the city of Spokane — $54.12 per ton.
The proposed agreement doesn’t reach that figure, but if approved by both Cheney and Spokane city councils it would give Cheney a rate of $60 per ton.
According to a briefing report in the Spokane City Council’s Sept. 8 meeting packet, the seven-year agreement with three, one-year extensions would provide Spokane an estimated $2.8 million in revenue.
Spokane City Councilman Mike Allen said Tuesday afternoon that the agreement received unanimous approval at the council’s meeting Monday night. He added that, if approved by Cheney, the agreement should be beneficial to both cities.
Ableman said while the agreement has gone through review by the Cheney’s legal counsel, it must still receive City Council approval before anything is done.
“In a perfect schedule, I would see this coming before the Sept. 23 council,” he said.
Ableman said either council could make changes to the proposed agreement, which could send it back for further discussions and legal review. And, if another disposal vendor presented a better option to the city, Ableman said they would have to consider that as well.
While long-hauling the city’s trash would likely yield a comparable rate between $50-$60 a ton, Ableman said the biggest obstacle would be the construction and maintenance of a solid waste transfer station in the city. That would likely require voter approval of construction bonds and possible collection rate increases, but is still a possibility should it prove more beneficial to Cheney residents in the long run.
“The past record speaks for itself, which is why we got into this in 2010, to get the best cost,” Ableman said. “We always want the better deal.”
City Administrator Mark Schuller said the proposed interlocal agreement with Spokane does include an exit clause option for either party to terminate the contract with at least a 12-month prior notification.
“That gives us a level of protection if they (Spokane) decided to get out of the business,” he added.
The city of Spokane is training its own solid waste personnel to operate the Waste to Energy Plant. Employees of Wheelabrator formerly operated the plant.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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