Cimarron Trucking won the Vendor Selection Committee vote by 19 points.

The elaborate scoring system to select the “winner” of the competition to run the Orcas transfer station resulted in a victory for Cimarron Trucking over local favorite Orcas Recycling by less than one percent – 954 for the current contract hauler, Cimarron Trucking; 935 for current Exchange operator, Orcas Recycling.

Lisa Byers and Jeffrey Struthers, Orcas residents both, gave Orcas Recycling a score of 407 and Cimarron Trucking 365. County Public Works managers Steve Alexander and Russ Harvey scored the contest the other way, 414 for Cimarron and 368 for Orcas Recycling.  Council Chairwoman Patty Miller, also a resident on Orcas, scored it 175 Cimarron, 160 Orcas Recycling.

The Vendor Selection Committee recommendation will be discussed, and possibly acted on, at today’s county council meeting in Friday Harbor. The early betting line favors Cimarron.

But for Orcas Recycling, the contest isn’t over until the clerk announces the council vote.

And it won’t be over even if Cimarron is chosen, because the committee insisted that Cimarron “work something out” with the Exchange to continue operating, and the Request for Proposals, and the ultimate operations contract, covers only Parcel D, one of four parcels at the county-owned site.

The Exchange, owned and operated by Orcas Recycling, is already located on Parcel B, which is not covered by the RFP.  County Public Works Director Frank Mulcahy says the county will consider putting out another RFP, for Parcel B.  As the present operator on Parcel B, Orcas Recycling would be a strong contender to win the contract so The Exchange could continue to operate.

To stay informed, visit our website for updates.