The Rome-Floyd County Solid Waste Commission approved moving forward with a major landfill expansion project, selecting the lowest bidder to construct Phase 9 of the Walker Mountain Landfill and taking additional steps to ensure the facility remains operational for decades to come.
Engineering Services Director Aaron Carroll told commissioners the landfill is required to complete two capacity studies each year to monitor remaining space. The most recent report, completed in December 2025, projected that the current Phase 8 disposal area will reach capacity by the fall of 2028, prompting officials to begin planning for the next expansion.
Three companies submitted bids for the Phase 9 construction project. T&K Construction submitted the lowest base bid at approximately $10.44 million and an alternate bid of about $10.3 million. Carroll recommended awarding the project to T&K, noting the company successfully completed construction of Phases 7 and 8 and has a proven track record with the landfill.
Chairwoman Jill Fisher asked when work could begin. Carroll said officials intend to move forward as quickly as possible, with Phase 9 potentially opening by late fall. Public Works Director Chris Jenkins added that the new phase is expected to provide more than 20 years of landfill capacity. The commission unanimously approved the recommendation, though the contract must still be executed by both the Rome City Commission and Floyd County Commission.
Commissioners also approved a task order with ACC for construction administration and construction quality assurance services required by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. The agreement carries a cost not to exceed $415,000 and will also require approval from both local governing bodies.
In another action, the commission approved a $68,500 task order for the landfill’s required five-year permit review. Carroll said state regulations require landfill plans and permits to be reviewed every five years to maintain compliance with Environmental Protection Division requirements.
During financial updates, Floyd County Manager Jamie McCord reported recycling center revenues for 2025 finished below budget and about $56,000 less than the previous year. While aluminum and paper sales improved, declining prices for corrugated cardboard, plastics and steel affected overall revenues. Operating expenses exceeded budget by approximately 4.4%, largely due to accounting changes and higher depreciation costs. McCord also said the Solid Waste Director position remains vacant but is expected to be filled later this year.
McCord said revenues through the first two months of 2026 remain about 10% below budget, while expenses are running 2.7% under budget despite increased repair, maintenance and insurance costs. He also emphasized the need for future discussions about the direction of the area’s recycling operations as the value of recyclable materials continues to decline.
Environmental Compliance Superintendent Eric Bagley reported the Walker Mountain Landfill handled 10,315.37 tons of material during the month, a decrease of 375 tons compared to the same period last year. Year-to-date tonnage across all categories totaled 20,399.2 tons, down 1,097 tons from the previous year.
Finance Director Toni Rhinehart reported landfill revenues were slightly lower than last year while expenses increased by about $13,000, primarily because of rising employee insurance premiums and the reinstatement of workers’ compensation contributions. She noted the landfill’s cash balance increased from approximately $20.3 million to $23.9 million over the past year, helping meet the state’s financial assurance requirements.
