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06/21/2007: "Public Trashes Proposal To Move Dump"

(Chris Clarke addresses how existing site can be expanded)

The recent Transfer Station meeting was intended to hear what potential environmental issues may need to be addressed for the proposed sites on San Juan Island. Things did not go well.

From the start of the meeting, a number of those attending made it quite clear that they were opposed to the current site being moved; did not trust the information presented by Public Works; believed that Public Works had already decided a new transfer station would be built at a new location, and in general that the whole process was “a waste of time and money”.

Todd Peterson has been retained by Public Works to structure and lead the meetings, and while he is skilled and experienced in moderating meetings, he was finding it difficult to keep the meeting focused on the subject at hand. Peterson insisted that the process is open and no predetermination has been made. For each objection presented against moving the site, Peterson would remind the group that the point of the meeting was to inform Public Works as to what the potential areas are that need to be looked at, and what data gathered, to complete an environmental impact assessment for each site.



But many in the audience were openly skeptical of the honesty of the process, and as the meeting moved on, the audience raised questions about “Where are the results from the last meeting that showed overwhelming support for not moving it [the existing site] at all?” Peterson would then flip though the charts and find the information.

The meeting was contentious, but to some extent was successful in identifying areas the county will need to study and address. An example of this occured when members of the San Juan Pilots Association stated that recent changes by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) preclude the construction on any of the proposed sites, even if the entire operation was in an enclosed building. This was news to Public Works, but as a result, they will now have to research the subject. In simple terms, any environmental issue raised, and especially when in writing, will have to be responded to.

While some were clearly distrustful, it was clear some were also well informed, and had been paying close attention over the years, as the both the town and the county dealt with issues related to the transfer station.

Evidence of this showed when someone in the audience said they recalled that if Public Works built a new transfer station at a new location, that did not mean the Town would necessary close down the existing dump. Past Town Councilman, and current County Councilman Howard Rosenfeld was asked if that was true. Rosenfeld said he believed the Town would retain the right to use the existing property, and could have their own transfer station there if they choose to do so.

One of the next steps is for Public Works to address most -if not all- of the issues and concerns raised at the meeting by conducting research and producing a report. After that, there will be more meetings. After the meeting, one of the participants said “It looks like it’s a question of who is going to wear our first, the public, or Public Works”.