19-2677. Franchises for the operation of solid waste management systems; conditions and procedure for granting. All counties in the state of Kansas are hereby authorized and empowered to grant franchises, subject to the following conditions, to persons to engage in the business of operating all or any part of solid waste management systems within counties:

First. All contracts granting or giving or extending, renewing or amending any existing franchise shall be made by resolution of the board of county commissioners, and not otherwise.

Second. No franchise may be granted to any person or be extended for any longer period of time than ten (10) years from the date of such grant or extension.

Third. No person shall ever be granted any exclusive franchise.

Fourth. The board of county commissioners of the county, at all times during the existence of any such franchise, shall have the right by resolution to fix a reasonable schedule of maximum rates to be charged such county and the inhabitants thereof, by any person operating under any franchise under this act: Provided, however, That said board of commissioners shall at no time fix a rate which shall prohibit such person from earning a reasonable rate upon the fair value of the property used and useful in such service. In fixing and establishing such fair value the value of such franchise given and granted by the county to such person, shall not be taken into consideration in ascertaining the reasonableness of the rates to be charged to the inhabitants of such county.

Fifth. No franchise shall ever be granted until the resolution granting the same shall have been read in full at two (2) regular meetings of the board of commissioners, and immediately after the final adoption it shall be published in the official county paper once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks. If within thirty (30) days after the last publication of such resolution there shall be filed with the county clerk of the county a petition signed by electors equal in number to not less than five percent (5%) of the electors of the county who voted for the secretary of state at the last preceding general election, requesting an election thereon, the board of county commissioners shall submit the question of the adoption of such resolution to the voters at an election called for that purpose and held within ninety (90) days after the last publication of the resolution or at the next general election if held within such time, and no franchise shall be granted under the provisions of any such resolution unless the question of the adoption of such resolution shall receive the approval of a majority of the votes cast thereon. Such elections shall be called and held in the manner provided for the calling and holding of elections under the general bond law.

History: L. 1971, ch. 217, § 2; July 1.