Airway Heights reaches solid waste accord

The Airway Heights City Council was presented with two proposals for solid waste planning and disposal services for the city at its Sept. 16 meeting. One was from Sunshine Disposal and Recycling and the other was a joint bid from Spokane County and the city of Spokane. The city decided to go with Spokane’s proposal and directed staff to draft an interlocal agreement between them and Airway Heights.

“When we’re talking about the city of Spokane and Spokane County that is really one option,” Airway Heights’ City Manager, Albert Tripp said. “The county is taking on the role of managing waste on a regional basis, but the partnership with Spokane is for the disposal site as far as services are concerned.”

Airway Heights is one of several cities in Spokane County that are under an agreement with Spokane to haul garbage to the Waste to Energy Plant, on Geiger Boulevard. The agreement is set to expire in November with Spokane giving control of two of their transfer stations and regional collection system to the county.

Airway Heights has spent the last three years exploring options in waste management services. They allied with other municipalities, issued a request for proposal for solid waste services, negotiated with different vendors and looked at other options.

Tripp and Public Works director Kelly Williquette broke down both proposals and gave a scenario of what would happen if the city renewed the current interlocal agreement.

Tripp explained that if the city renewed the current agreement, gate fee prices would cost $89.50 per ton for municipal solid waste, with an increase of 2.3 percent per year and cap at $111.56 by 2021.

With Sunshine’s proposal, the gate fee price would be $95.31 and rise to $107.50 by 2021.

Under Spokane County and Spokane’s proposal, gate fees would cost $70.50 and increase to $78.26 by 2021.

Under Spokane’s proposal, the cost for self-hauling municipal waste to the Waste to Energy Plant will be $15.55 for up to 300 pounds. The cost for yard waste will be $47.99 per ton. Yard waste for self-haulers will be a $5.11 minimum charge up to 220 pounds.

Tripp added that signing with Spokane could result in a possible 14-15 percent rate reduction for an average household.

Tripp added that the city considered several factors when looking at both proposals, including services, transfer station location, hours of operations, terms of potential contract renewal and early-out provision.

Under Spokane’s option, the Waste to Energy Plant will be the primary transfer station for Airway Heights’ solid waste. They will have access to transfer stations that are a part of the regional system.

Williquette explained that control of rate increases would be specified in the contract and Airway Heights will participate on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) committee. The county will provide planning and education on behalf of the city and would be responsible for flow control.

Following the presentation, Tripp suggested the city pursue a contract with Spokane County and Spokane.

After the city approved pursuing a contract, Airway Heights Mayor Patrick Rushing thanked Sunshine for submitting a bid and participating in the negotiations.

“You guys gave us a lot of help in keeping this momentum going on this,” Rushing said. “Even though you didn’t get the contract, we still want to maintain a good working relationship with the city and all of our waste partners.”

Williquette also thanked Sunshine for their participation.

In other business, the city approved the second reading of an ordinance that would amend Airway Heights Municipal Code Chapter 3.40 “Admissions Tax.” The council also passed resolutions to declare October Domestic Violence Awareness and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. They also passed a resolution to sponsor membership of the city’s Transportation Benefit District into the Association of Washington Cities Risk management Service Agency property and liability self-insurance program.

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].