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June 25th, 2008

Skagit County reaches tentative global settlement with solid waste companies Deluxe and Cimarron

SKAGIT COUNTY – On June 24, 2008, Skagit County reached a tentative settlement agreement with private solid waste operators Deluxe Recycling and Disposal LLC and Cimarron Transfer and Recycling Company LLC. Both companies are pursuing litigation against the County over the issue of solid waste privatization.

According to the proposed settlement, Deluxe and Cimarron have agreed to dismiss all lawsuits and release all claims against the County, and both concede that any new contracts to handle waste generated in Skagit County must be approved by the recently-formed Solid Waste System Governance Board. Pursuant to the settlement, Cimarron and Deluxe have agreed that the regional agreement establishing the Governance Board is lawful and proper. In addition, the two companies have agreed that the controversial Cimarron contract, approved by the County in 2005, is null and void. Both sides are releasing each other from any monetary claims under the settlement.

“At the end of the day, whether and under what conditions to allow solid waste privatization in Skagit County is a policy matter for the Governance Board to decide, not a legal dispute,” said Will Honea, Skagit County’s Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. “It seems like Deluxe is looking to start over with a different approach to this issue, something we sincerely appreciate and applaud.”

The two companies have approved the settlement, which will be presented for the Skagit County Board of Commissioners’ potential signature in the near future. For informational purposes, the proposed settlement will be presented to the Solid Waste System Governance Board at its scheduled meeting at 9:30 a.m., June 25, 2008, at Burlington City Hall.

For further information, contact:

Will Honea
Chief Civil Deputy
Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney
360-336-9460