Buena Vista County Solid Waste Commission Raises Per‑Capita Assessment $1 to $35

The Buena Vista County Solid Waste Commission voted to raise the county’s per-capita landfill assessment by $1, increasing the annual charge to $35 per person effective July 1, 2026; the motion to enact the change was moved by Tom Grafft and seconded by Kim Woltman and passed on an all-ayes vote at the Nov. 13, 2025 meeting. Local officials described the move as a "modest 2% increase" that will be reflected in the agency's FY27 budget draft, which Manager Lori Dicks presented that evening.

At the regular meeting called to order at 5:00 p.m. in the City of Storm Lake City Hall Council Chambers by Chairman Erik Mosbo, the board also approved a $10 increase to the tipping fee rate as part of the same motion. The minutes record the motion verbatim: "Motion by Tom Grafft to increase the tipping fee rate by $10.00 and the a $1.00 increase in assessment to go into effect July 1, 2026, seconded by Woltman, all ayes motion passed."

Accountant Jason Raveling presented the financials and bills for payment before the vote; Grafft moved to approve payment of the bills and Bill Henrich seconded the motion, which carried "all ayes" according to the minutes. The record shows long intervals between rate changes: "tipping fees have not been raised since 2016 and per capita rate has not been raised since FY2022," language quoted directly from Lori Dicks's budget presentation in the minutes.

The agency approved a separate operational adjustment that will affect FY26 accounting: an SCS field work proposal amended the scope-of-services contract, increasing compensation from $5,000 to $10,000 for FY26. Jim Wise moved to approve that increase and Barry Meyer seconded the motion; the minutes again record "all ayes, motion carried." The minutes also note ICAP has deemed a skidloader fire a total loss and that ICAP "will deal with the company directly," language supplied in the manager's report.

Other specific items recorded in the minutes included a pending renewal to receive Pocahontas County recyclables and direction for Manager Lori Dicks to draft a letter if the agency intends to raise Pocahontas County's rates. Dicks also raised the need to update the employee handbook and asked whether the board wanted to hire an outside company or handle revisions in-house; the board agreed to address that at the next meeting.

Attendance at the Nov. 13 meeting included Chairman Erik Mosbo and board members Tom Grafft, Jeff Westcott, Bruce McGowan, Kim Woltman, Barry Meyer, Bill Henrich, Dan Hartman, Jim Wise, and Larry Robinson, with Lori Dicks as manager, Jason Raveling as accountant, Clark Fort listed as insurance agent, and Gary Armstrong as attorney. The minutes were "Respectfully submitted" by Kim Woltman and record the next scheduled meeting as December 11, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in the City of Storm Lake Council Chambers. The per-capita assessment increase will take effect July 1, 2026 and be incorporated into the FY27 budget materials the agency is preparing.