Landfill board discusses Childress report

The Upper Platte River Solid Waste Disposal District (UPRSWDD) met on December 2 at the Platte Valley Community Center to discuss ongoing matters involving the landfill. After site reports and discussion of ongoing billing issues, the board met with Mayor Pro-Tem Bob Keel to address the James Childress report. The report was criticized in the town council meeting the day before, and this trend continued to the landfill board meeting.  

Keel started by discussing Childress’s overview of the report in the town council meeting the previous day. The finalized report was then given to the district, under the caveat that this version was intended for the audience of the Town of Saratoga.

This report is public record.

He then stated that a report specifically for the district will be produced later. The numbers shared at the last landfill did not change according to Keel.  

Chairman Randy Raymer then took the floor to address Keel. He stated that he didn’t understand why there would be two reports, as the district was the one who requested the audit and a written paper trail. Raymer expressed distaste with Childress, and a lack of trust in his findings.

“I specifically want to see a written report of how the money got to where it was,” he elaborated.

He stated the report that will be made specifically for the district will be shared with the public and the media.

“This board will not be held hostage, if the town council wants to be held hostage you go ahead and do that all you want,” said Raymer.

“We have been very patient, and it’s time for someone to kick Mr. Childress in the hind end and get this done.”

Keel stated that Childress and his family were having health issues, which delayed the report. He stated that he understood the district’s frustrations, and, said the intention of the council is to engage Mr. Childress in preparing a specific set of information for the landfill.”  

After reviewing the report that was given, Raymer expressed it was “an awful lot of boilerplate.” He expected to see a 4-5 page report, not fifty. Keel stated that the majority of the money misplaced was the gate receipts, and that Childress likes to go in-depth. While he stated he couldn’t speak for the council as a whole, Keel intends that everything that is owed to the district be paid in full.  

Raymer stated the report would be scrutinized heavily. ”Quite honestly, personally, my level of trust with the Town of Saratoga has been lost.”  

Keel stated that he has no issue with any scrutiny. “I also want to put a caveat, everybody knows I’m not terribly great at being a town council person. And I’m learning and I’m growing and I’m trying to do what’s right for the town,” he expressed.  

Some discussion then occurred with the board regarding public records. Joshua Wood, in his understanding, stated that Childress had created the report for the Town of Saratoga as they were the party that engaged him, with a more professional report at a later date. In both cases, the reports are public record and can be requested by anyone. “That’s what I understood him to say, whether I agree with him is an entirely different matter,” Wood expressed in regards to Childress.  

After discussion of the report ended, Raymer began discussing his ideas for what to do with the funds that will be given to them by the town. He expressed wanting to give back to district patrons by possibly reducing landfill rates moving into the future. Rates have been rising steadily the past few years, and a re-evaluation of them is something he would like the district to discuss. The board talked briefly regarding the matter, but no decision was reached.  

The next landfill board meeting will be at 7 p.m. on January 6, at the Riverside Town Hall.