Moderate risk facility planned to go back to bid

COLFAX – The bids received for the moderate risk waste facility will be rejected Public Works Director Mark Storey informed the commissioners at the Monday, April 27, county commissioner workshop.

“After looking at the bids we received it looks like we will start over and put out for a re-bid in the future,” Storey said. “It looked like the received bids were not in the best interest for us.”

The bids for the MRW facility was opened April 20 by Storey and Commissioner Michael Largent. Two bids were read and presented.

The first bid was from Kenaston Cooperation in Lewiston. The total bid cost, including sales and use tax, was $1,255,902.34.

The second bid was from Halme Builders Inc. in Davenport. The total cost of the bid, including sales and use tax, was $1,100,099.

A third bid was received, but instead of being mailed in, like the two that were opened, it was faxed. Storey said there was no provision set on receiving bids by fax. Since this bid was faxed it was not opened and read.

The operation of the MRW facility is for household hazardous waste, including paint, pesticides, certain household cleaners, batteries and more.

On Monday, April 27, the Washington Department of Ecology released that there has been an increase in illegal dumping of waste oil, paint, household chemicals and other hazardous materials amid COVID-19.

Storey said they have not seen a dramatic increase in Whitman County yet.

“I presume in part because we have 15 or 20,000 fewer people here right now,” Storey said. “We are trying to open back up the transfer station to self haulers as soon as we can safely, in part to avoid illegal dumping.”

Storey said the longer the transfer station and other services that deal with waste materials are closed, there will be an increase in illegal dumping.

“Throughout this, we have allowed people to bring hazardous materials, since we do not charge for it anyway,” Storey said. He said doing this has helped and that many transfer stations that are shut down are accepting hazardous materials.