The Landfill Board met on July 1 to discuss the budget and upcoming progress on the new transfer station.
Engineers have been working on required surveys and estimate that they will be finished before the end of July. The report cited at the meeting stated that the geotechnical investigation has been completed and the Foundation Design has been implemented. The engineers still must complete the Low Hazard/Low Volume Permit Application and submit that the site has been nailed down, and then complete the Conditional Use Permit. They must also look into and potentially complete a minor amendment for a vertical expansion to increase volume by a maximum of 5 percent. This will increase time, if it is needed, allowed for the construction of the transfer station.
The board also discussed seasonal residents who try to avoid paying the landfill fee due to the nature of the fees in the area, such that those who own property and pay landfill fees on rental properties that someone else lives in may not dump at the landfill or public dumpsters for free.
“We do have a pretty serious problem, especially in the summer time, of dumpster stuffing,” said Randy Raymer, Landfill Board Chairman. “The community has to provide [public dumpsters] for people traveling, getting out of their boats on the river, to dispose of their trash,” he said. “And it’s being abused.” While some travelers and part-time residents try this, Raymer insists that the full-time residents are usually very good at paying their fees and rates.
Beginning on July 1, the rates increased 18 percent due, in part, to changes in funding for the transfer station project. Funding for these Cease and Transfer operations, which involves closing a landfill and erecting a transfer station, was at one point supplied 75 percent by grants and 25 percent by a loan with zero percent interest. However, it has changed such that 75 percent now comes from grants and loans with 25 percent in cash.
“We’re trying to lobby the legislature to go back to [the first] position,” Raymer said. “The difference between [the first position] and [the current position] makes a difference of about $200,000 to the community, which obviously makes a big change in what we are going to charge for rates.” According to Raymer, this is needed to generate the revenue needed to support this funding position for the transfer station as well as the closure of the existing landfill. Between both projects, the total cost to the community is $600,000 under this current funding position, which they are working to change. Raymer says the Landfill Board will get an update on their lobbying effort in August.
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