County says no to solid waste district

The Crook County Commissioners have decided once and for all that a solid waste district will not be formed to investigate the future of trash in this county. At last week’s meeting, the plan for an investigative “think tank” was also scrapped, bringing to an end the question of whether the county-wide community can work together to find a single solid waste solution.

As the gathering began, Commissioner Kelly Dennis began the process of selecting names for the “think tank,” an idea put forward in February as a compromise. At that time, having not heard much in the way of support from the public for a solid waste district, the commission was not comfortable with forming a district to which it would then be obligated to cede decision-making power.

The intention on Wednesday was to appoint one person for each of the municipalities and four to represent county residents, private industry and more. However, Mayor Dick Claar of Moorcroft interjected to inform the commission that a “think tank” would not be enough to prevent the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) from refusing to extend his town’s landfill permit.

The DEQ is looking for real movement towards a plan so, unless Moorcroft can present proof a district is being formed and a progress on a plan and financial outline within the next 60-90 days, he said, the department had confirmed it will not approve any new cells or vertical extensions. This would ultimately mean the closure of the last remaining landfill in Crook County.

The “think tank” would not have been the first time representatives from the county and municipalities had come together to discuss the solid waste issue. A group met for around two years about this topic, Claar reminded the commission, and no progress was made.

Claar expressed his desire for the county as a whole to stop “kicking the can down the road” and come to a decision. If there is not to be a countywide solution, he said, Moorcroft needs to know so it can look into solo options such as for the town to seek funding for the landfill by itself or to close the landfill and transfer waste.

Council Member Joe Wilson, Sundance, agreed that it doesn’t seem worthwhile to create a new group to gather more information, as did Dennis, who said that he does not favor a district because, “A good strong half of this county is never going to be able to benefit from or use it”. Council Member Karla Brandenburg, Pine Haven, said her town does not support a district because of the enormous cost of a new lined landfill, commenting, “The sad truth is, we don’t have enough trash here.”

Brandenburg also expressed concern that Pine Haven will always be outvoted by Sundance and Moorcroft if a mill levy for a solid waste district were to go to the ballot.

Sundance and Moorcroft need to know whether any traction is possible with a countywide solution, said Wilson. Both towns are prepared to look for alternatives, she said, but need to have an answer in order to start looking.

Commissioner Fred Devish also agreed that it’s time to stop kicking the can down the road – it’s been eight or ten years since this conversation began, he said. However, he was not against the idea of forming a district on the basis that every person pays taxes for at least a few services they don’t have a need to use.

For example, Devish said, he doesn’t make use of Week & Pest or drive every county road, and he doesn’t get bothered too much by coyotes in town or go to school. Having an entity such as a district opens the door to additional financial options, he said.

For Commissioner Jeanne Whalen, everything boils down to who actually owns the landfill. It will always belong to Moorcroft, she said, and they will make all the final decisions, though only one of the other three towns also wants to pursue this route.

After further discussion over what the lack of a local landfill might mean for private contractors and the need for trash disposal options outside the towns, Dennis felt it was time to bring an end to the conversation.

“I’m done talking about it,” he said, asking for it to be recorded in the minutes that he stands against forming a district.

Following this, it was decided that the commission would make a motion on the matter for the sake of record. A motion to not form a district was passed, with Dennis and Whalen voting for it and Devish voting against.