Two landfills seeking Powell’s trash submitted proposals to the city of Powell Tuesday.

The Park County Landfill and the Casper Regional Landfill sent in proposals that were opened at Powell City Hall Council Chambers. The Casper one offered several options, which included, as a separate option, the price of hauling the municipal solid waste (MSW).

The Park County bid did not include a hauling price. The city also asked the Billings and Big Horn County landfills to submit bids but they did not do so.

Proposal A in the Casper bid calls for Powell to pay $293,000 over a five-year period, which City Administrator Zane Logan termed a fee for joining an association. It would then be charged $37 per ton for a tipping fee, with a promise that Powell would always pay the same rate as Natrona County clients.

If Powell would decide to contract with Casper but not pay the upfront fee, it would be charged $48.10 per ton. That’s a 30-percent surcharge over the base $37 fee charged to Natrona County customers.

The hauling fee would be $29.50 per ton, with Casper providing a tractor to haul a Powell trailer. The Casper proposal calculates the annual cost at $147,500.

Logan said in addition to that price, Powell would have to consider maintenance cost on a trailer going back and forth to Casper on a regular basis.

The Park County bid, just for disposal, was $72 per ton over a six-year contract; $78 a ton over three years; $90 per ton for a one-year deal and $100 per ton for disposal without a contract.

The county contract does not include hauling.

Logan said the city is seeking bids from private haulers. A request for proposals is on the city website. The private haulers can submit bids for trips to and from Cody or Casper or both.

Logan called the bid opening a “first step” in the process.

“Really, it’s a start but we can’t decide yet,” Logan said. “Until we get the (hauling) cost, we’re just guessing. This is a massive undertaking.”

The deadline to submit quotes for hauling the MSW is Jan. 9. Logan said the Powell City Council may decide at its Monday, Jan. 20, meeting.

Logan said he is still studying the proposal. City staff may offer a recommendation if the council wants one, he said, and a spreadsheet will list all the costs for MSW disposal after staffers study all the variables.

Currently the city is contracting with Big Horn County on a $78 per ton charge, with the city hauling the MSW. That contract will end in January, but Logan said the city will be able to take its trash there until a new contract is reached with either Park County or Casper.

He said the city is committed to doing this in a transparent manner.

“The city is trying to be upfront about this, as it should,” Logan said.