A boatload of trash

Locals were surprised and angered to see a boatload of trash deposited at the transfer station outside Ovando on July 19.

And on the morning of July 23 a load of trash was found spilling out of the dump and the large gates were broken. That trash had food-related components and was considered a bear attractant. Locals contacted Justin Williams, Ovando Rural Disposal District representative and president, and he arranged for cleanup that day.

"We have a fairly good lead to who may have been responsible for that garbage," Powell County Sheriff Gavin Roselles said. "A deputy visited the dump site Saturday and encountered two additional vehicles at the dump backed up to the bins utilizing the dumpsters. Both vehicles were registered to Seeley Lake residents. We're expecting some follow-up on that incident."

"As people are well aware those dumpsters are for use by Powell County residents only," Roselles said. "The one case that may differ is if an out-of-county resident is doing contract work for a Powell County resident, (then) they may utilize the dumpsters."

County residents in the Rural Disposal District pay $170 per house per year to fund garbage services. People in the Deer Lodge Refuse Disposal District from Beck Hill Road to the Racetrack community have home garbage pick-up services.

"It's a problem at all the rural dump sites," Roselles said. "People don't want to pay the fees in cities like Helena or Seeley Lake yet drive many miles to take advantage of the rural dumpsters."

In 2015 a county ordinance was written and states that refuse disposal sites are funded by resident tax assessments in each respective district and are intended solely for the use of those local residents. Use by unauthorized people causes a risk to public health, safety and welfare and places a burden on taxpayers and those assessed the costs of operating the sites.

Posting notices at the sites to discourage out of area use has not been effective. The imposition of criminal sanctions is necessary to prevent the unauthorized dumping at the refuse sites in Powell County, states the ordinance.

According to the ordinance, it has been declared unlawful and punishable by a fine of between $100 to $1,000 or by imprisonment in the county jail for up to 10 days or by fine and imprisonment.

"When we cite someone under that ordinance it does involve penalties and fines," Roselles said.