LAKE COUNTY - Lake County Commissioners unanimously voted to keep the Porcupine Dump site open for two days a week following recommendations from the Solid Waste Board during their Dec. 16 Commissioner meeting.
The days in question have not been decided. Solid Waste Board Member Carol Field is canvassing area residents to determine which days are preferable. Once the days are determined, residents will be notified. The site will remain in its current location for the time being.
Lake County’s Solid Waste Board originally recommended closing the site, located near Porcupine Creek on Highway 83, at their August 2020 meeting due to illegal dumping from contractor use, gate damage and vandalism. Had the site closed, residents would have had to use the Ferndale Transfer Station site 13 miles away.
In October the commissioners held a public hearing where several residents stated that they did not want the site to close and that they would be willing to work around limited access.
The Commissioners had three options to choose from:
• Use the same site, unstaffed
• Use the same site, staffed twice a week
• Move to the recommended Department of Transportation site if or when it becomes available
The Lake County Commissioners voted to go with the second option and approach it as inexpensively as possible. Solid Waste Manager Mark Nelson presented the Commissioners with various options to improve the site and their estimated costs. The Commissioners did not make any official decisions.
Fencing and gating the entire site would cost $48,000 in total. The required gates and updates would cost around $22,000, but the project could begin with cement blocks that would cost around $3,000. Repairing the cement “z wall” would cost around $18,000.
One alternative to fencing the whole site is connecting a fence to the gate facing Highway 83 and extending it into the woods.
The cardboard bin being added will cost around $10,000, but would give the area some recycling.
According to Nelson, installing cameras at the site would be difficult with no power, but it is possible. Adding power costs around $20,000 and would require going under the highway. Power is also needed for the staffed shack and bear resistant covers. A generator could be used during the initial stages.
Buying four container lids with sliding windows would allow only smaller items to be put in bins. This would help mitigate large items being placed into them. These would cost $15,800.
Site staff could open the bear resistant covers in the morning and put them back down each night. The cost of a shack or camper for the staff member would be approximately $5,000.
According to meeting minutes, the Commission felt it is ideal to eventually staff all sites. Staffing the Porcupine Site would help initiate the process and test its results. The board could also potentially organize a tag system for the site that would deter Missoula County residents from using the site and not paying for it.
No additional meetings regarding the issue are currently scheduled.
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