By RYAN OLSON-Staff Writer
Posted: 07/02/2010 12:00:00 AM PDT
WILLOWS — As Glenn County faces the costly challenge of expanding its landfill while shuttering older areas, the Glenn County Grand Jury recommended exploring importing waste to offset costs.
The 2009-10 Grand Jury included that and three other recommendations on the landfill in its final report, released Wednesday. The landfill is located off Road 33 west of Artois near the Tehama-Colusa Canal.
Although the county raised its landfill dumping fees by about 100 percent in July 2009, the Grand Jury report states the panel was unsure the fees would be sufficient to cover the increased costs of expanding and operating the landfill.
While Glenn County's dumping fees are comparable to neighboring counties, the Grand Jury was concerned about the possibility of significant increases after the final purchase price of the expansion is determined.
"If the rates become unacceptable to the county customers, there may be a reduction in customer resulting in even higher unit costs and more illegal dumping of waste," the report states.
The Grand Jury recommended exploring the idea of importing waste from other jurisdictions. It noted doing so may generate income, but it would also proportionally reduce the lifespan of the proposed expansion. Based on current usage, the expansion could extend the landfill's lifespan by 50-100 years.
Mandy Kleykamp, solid waste programs manager, said the Grand Jury's recommendations were generally spot on.
"I think the Grand Jury was generous and fair in their evaluation of the landfill," Kleykamp said, after hearing the panel's conclusions and recommendations.
On importing trash, she said the department will do whatever the Board of Supervisors directs it to do. Kleykamp said she has heard from at least four jurisdictions over the years about the possibility of using the county's landfill. Some of these governments are hauling trash to landfills in neighboring states.
The Grand Jury also recommended that the county public works director update dumping fees when the final purchase price of the landfill site is determined. The county is using eminent domain to acquire the leased, 446-acre site. An owner agreed to sell 3.9 acres and a trial date is set for October for the remainder.
The Grand Jury recommendations also included having the county better promote the no-cost recycling options at the landfill and having the public works director consider providing professional services in-house instead of contracting them out.
Kleykamp had some concerns about the professional services recommendation. Regarding recycling, Kleykamp said the landfill works to promote its services in a variety of ways, including signs at the facility, radio coverage and on the landfill's price sheet.
Despite that, some people still attempt to dump televisions in the landfill when the landfill can recycle monitors for free.
The expansion will provide an area for people to sort out recyclables. Individuals would only pay what goes into the landfill.
The public works director is required to respond to the Grand Jury report within 60 days.
Staff writer Ryan Olson can be reached at 896-7763 or rolson@chicoer.com.
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