East Grand Forks considers sanitation contract as Countrywide Sanitation prepares for sale

EAST GRAND FORKS – The East Grand Forks City Council considered updates to its sanitation and refuse hauling contract with Countrywide Sanitation due to the sale of Countrywide to Waste Management.

The council discussed the updates to the agreement during its work session Tuesday. The council is expected to fully consider the updates to the agreement during its next regular meeting, on Aug. 5.

Public Works Director Jason Stordahl said residents will largely see no changes, and the change reflects the company being sold to Waste Management.

“My understanding is it will be the same trucks and even probably the same employees for right now,” Stordahl told the council. “Hopefully, it’ll be a seamless transition.”

Countrywide President Rachel Gornowicz confirmed Stordahl’s statements and thanked the council for the business relationship and support from the city in the last decade.

“We’ve always taken pride in providing reliable, responsive and community-focused service,” Gornowicz said. “(Selling) wasn’t a decision I took lightly and it’s not a retirement announcement for me.”

Gornowicz plans to continue her landfill and storage container rental operations. The company will also continue to operate normally until the sale closes on Sept. 1. Waste Management representative Randy Ott said no changes are expected and that Waste Management will continue to honor the city’s sanitation contract.

“It’s going to be the same driver. It’s going to be the same truck, same service days,” Ott said. “We are not seeing change needed at this time.”

Last year, the City Council approved extending its sanitation service contract with Countrywide for another five years. Countrywide has provided residential trash and recycling services since 2014 for East Grand Forks residents. The city handles much of the commercial trash collection.

The council also received a presentation from the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Metropolitan Planning Organization about the potential for microtransit in the city. According to the consultants on the study from Bolton and Menk, microtransit could help augment service gaps in transit.

Microtransit is a hybrid between traditional fixed-route services and dial-a-ride services. Like fixed-route services, vehicles have specific areas they serve, akin to bus routes and bus stops. But like dial-a-ride, they have an on-demand aspect where people request to be picked up through an app.

Community Development Director Nancy Ellis that she expects the earliest this service would begin is 2027, but it could be a conversation that the council could have this winter and into next year as it discusses the next round of Minnesota Department of Transportation funding.

In other news, the council:

• Will not have a meeting next week as it is the fifth Tuesday of July. The council will meet again on Aug. 5 for its first regular meeting of August.
• Received updates about the Safe Streets for All plan. Feedback given during a joint meeting of the Grand Forks and East Grand Forks city councils on July 8 has been incorporated, including more potential projects along Bygland Road. The council is set to fully adopt the plan in August and once adopted, it will open more funding opportunities for both Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.
• Considered the winter activity fee structure for the 2025-2026 season. East Grand Forks Parks and Recreation has proposed a 3% increase in fees to keep up with inflation. The change will result in an estimated $4,200 in increased revenue, and Council Vice President Tim Riopelle said that it’s similar to, if not cheaper than, comparable communities. 

Voigt covers government in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.