Halifax County Commissioners Tuesday night unanimously agreed to move forward with building a solid waste transfer station.

The vote does not include a partnership with Roanoke Rapids although County Manager Tony Brown was instructed to contact city officials. Brown said before the board went into closed session, the invitation for the city to participate remains open.

The vote taken by commissioners also instructs the county to enter into negotiations with Richardson Smith Gardner & Associates of Raleigh for a contract that will provide engineering services for the design, permitting and construction of a new transfer station.

According to documents contained in the agenda packet, the estimated cost of these services is $110,000.

Public Utilities Director Gwen Matthews recommended the funding come in the form of a loan from the solid waste fund balance, which would be paid back after financing is in place.

Should the negotiations with Richardson stall, Matthews recommended the county seek the same negotiations with Municipal Engineering Services Company of Garner.

Richardson and Municipal Engineering were identified as the top two firms which responded to the county's request for qualifications.

The county did not proceed with seeking construction bids on the facility, which Matthews said is estimated to cost $1.27 million.

The county in July agreed to move forward with plans to build a facility on Highway 48 at the current landfill site in the Aurelian Springs community.

In another matter Tuesday, the commissioners decided not to move forward with entering into a contract for a school system consolidation study with Evergreen Solutions LLC out of Tallahassee. Estimated cost of the study is $125,000.