Demand shown for joining solid waste district

Green River residents have shown interest in having the city join the Sweetwater County Solid Waste District No. 1, according to Sweetwater County Commissioner Randy Wendling.

Speaking during the county commissioners’ meeting Tuesday, Wendling said the county has received comments about Green River joining the solid waste district. However, the county isn’t involved with the decision.

“I’d like to have people realize that waste district is a special district ... that special district has its own board that governs that district,” Wendling said.

The district’s boundaries are mostly focused around the city, but includes Reliance, Superior and Point of Rocks. While the commissioners appoint members to represent the county on the board, the board is self-governing and does not receive oversight from the county commissioners.

“I encourage the citizens of Green River, if there’s a true desire, to work through that special waste district board,” Wendling said.

One Green River resident emailed the commissioners through the county’s public comments email Tuesday. As the commissioners do not meet in person and conduct meetings through video conference software, emails sent to the address are read during the meeting.

Green River resident Teddy Maines, emailed the commissioners, requesting them to change the district’s boundaries to include Green River and Jamestown as residents in both locations are paying customers through Wyoming Waste Systems and have no alternatives to waste service. As the city was preparing to close its landfill in 2017, the Green River City Council contracted with Wyoming Waste Systems to provide trash collection services within the city. However, because residents in Green River don’t live within the district’s boundaries, Maines said they’re charged a nonresident fee to dump their trash at the district’s landfill outside of Rock Springs.

“We have no alternatives if our trash is rejected but to go to Rock Springs,” Maines wrote in his email.

Maines also said the 1,800-pound limit creates an unnecessary burden on residents.

“I’ve heard through the grapevine that some people want in the district,” RJ Pieper, a member of the district’s board said. “It’s on our radar.”

Pieper said while he’s aware people want the city in, the board hasn’t discussed if or how Green River should be brought into the district. He also said people haven’t come to the board’s meetings to petition for the city’s inclusion. He said the public is welcomed to come to the board’s meetings, saying public comment is also welcomed, similar to other governmental meetings.

The solid waste district meets Nov. 9, at the Rock Springs Housing Authority building, located at 233 C St. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 
Rendered 03/11/2024 11:50