The county commission last week approved a contract for Waste Services of Tennessee to continue operating the convenience centers for trash disposal. The cost will be $427,195 yearly, not counting additional costs if the waste tonnage goes over 3,750 tons in a six-month period. The contract will be in effect for three years.

The other bidder, Waste Connections, had a fuel surcharge and cost-of-living increase in its bid but provided a higher tonnage, in line with this year’s total, before the extra charge kicks in. Even so, according to County Executive Mike Stinnett, the Waste Services bid is lower.

John Pippenger asked if there are any other companies that might bid if the contract was let again. Stinnett said no other companies showed interest. The bid was approved 7-0, with Greg Brooks and Kevin Stephens absent.

In a discussion of the problem of out-of-county trash, the commissioners suggested that Stinnett create an application form for those who do not have a Polk County license plate but feel they are eligible to drop off trash. Stinnett said the convenience center attendants have begun turning away people without a local plate and he is getting a lot of requests for exemptions. Wanda Cheek said it should be limited to Polk County tags, but Stinnett pointed out there are legitimate cases where a person would not have a county tag. He said they need to determine whether trash is generated in the county, such as by owners of second homes. Bishop said the commission will begin looking over applications after the meeting each month to identify those eligible to drop off trash. Daren Waters said the sanitation committee should look for a permanent solution.

In other business:

• Approval was given 7-0 to a plan to charge jail inmates a co-pay for medical care. The county would not be able to deny care for those who cannot afford the co-pay, but it would be deducted from the commissary account for those can afford it. Sheriff Bill Davis said this will also allow the county to seek reimbursement from inmates who have health insurance. He said it is too soon to know how much would be generated, estimating it could be $6-10,000 a year.

• Budget amendments included nearly $100,000 to cover medical expenses for the jail. This includes medical costs before the health services contract went into effect April 1 and the $75,000 cost for the contract. Nearly $24,000 was shifted in the jail budget to provide additional funds for food.

• Approval was given 7-0 to have the county executive find out the cost to survey the three tracts of property on Hwy. 411 that currently house the old jail, the Ag Extension office and the Election Commission. The commission will decide next month whether to proceed with the survey, with an eye toward selling some or all of the property. Daren Waters said they should try to sell the jail for sure but they are not sure yet what to do with the other offices. Pippenger reported that the roof on the Election office has been fixed for now and he has not been able to get a ruling on whether there would be a violation of the 100-foot rule during elections if the office is moved to the Courthouse.

• Approval was given 7-0 to expand the membership on the Joint Economic and Community Development Board to add a representative of tourism, education, and health. The commission had turned down the resolution last month.

• Approval was given 7-0 for the county to continue on a five-year reappraisal plan.

• The commission tabled a resolution that would provide a tax exemption for non-profit organizations for construction or rehab of affordable housing. Assessor Randy Yates said there has been one Habitat for Humanity home built in the county. It has already been transferred to the owner and is on the tax rolls. He said the resolution would provide an exemption before the property is transferred.

• Greg Brooks was absent so his invitation to Ed Ditto, on the agenda for the third time, was skipped. Chairman Mark Bishop said Brooks would have to put it back on the agenda if he wants it back on.

• The budget committee will hold its first meeting for the budget that begins July 2. The meeting will be Thursday, 7 p.m. at the Courthouse.

• A bid for $36,000 from Deep South for a new tanker for East Polk Fire & Rescue was approved. Funds will come from the department’s budget.

• Stinnett reported that a request has been made for the county to pay for the bonds for constables, a total of around $975. He said the constables have been paying for their own bonds in the past. Pippenger said the county shouldn’t even consider it unless constables have completed training. Fred Wilcoxon said it should stay as is. The idea was tabled.