Local garbage collection site to remain open

MATTAWA - A contingent of 16 Desert Aire residents learned on March 9 that county government can be reasonable and responsive.

An advisory group will recommend to county commissioners that the South County garbage collection site remain open.

"We made our arguments for keeping it open, and they agreed with us," Desert Aire Homeowners Association President Larry Couch said.

But it is a compromise position the Grant County Solid Waste Advisory Committed agreed to recommend. There is still concern about the cost of operation.

Today, Tuesday, March 17, at 1:30 p.m, the advisory group will recommend that the Mattawa-Desert Aire drop box be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m-5 p.m., effective on May 1. The compromised would eliminate two days from the current schedule.

The advisory committee will recommend that signage to the effect be put up as soon as possible at the site. It will also recommend that the county run public service announcements reflecting the changes.

The way Couch understands the recommendation, the drop box would remain in service until some time in 2017. Meanwhile the advisory committee would prepare an updated recommendation for the commissioners during their preparation of the 2017 county budget.

According to this recommendation, the county would keep the current drop box tipping fees. And there would be a review of any operational improvements that would help with costs.

Couch said the DAHA made the same arguments before the advisory committee it had made in Royal Register coverage of the matter. He said he and two other DAHA members spoke.

Couch encouraged South County residents to attend the March 9 meeting to help make a case for keeping the Mattawa-Desert Aire garbage collection site open. He was pleased with the turnout.

The Mattawa Drop Box is located halfway between Mattawa and Desert Aire on the east side of Highway 243. It is "very well used," Couch said.

The two principal arguments were the distance - one hour, one way - South County residents would have to travel to deliver their refuse and the likely trashing of the South County area because of that travel challenge.