Mono landfills get a big tip
Supervisors approve Solid Waste fee hike, schedule changes … except for Bridgeport
No more wasting time and money. The Mono County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on Tuesday before voting on measures that will hopefully stop, and ideally reverse, the free-fall that has submerged the County’s solid waste program deep in red ink. The measures will take effect almost immediately, and are designed to correct both revenue shortfalls and unsustainable operational costs that have left the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund with a deficit of more than $1 million, and well on its way to $2 million.
The Board approved nearly all proposed changes to the Solid Waste Gate Fee and Operational schedules. Left off the table was a proposed additional $9.25 fee that would have been banked for future use, which the Board nixed during its April 5 meeting, and any policy changes vis a vis the perceived lack of equity between the Town of Mammoth Lakes and Mono County, which the Board decided to deal with at a later date.
In his report, Solid Waste Superintendent Matt Carter outlined the corrective moves as follows: tipping fees would increase from $50 to $68.50, and minimum fees from $1.75 to $5 at the gate. In addition, a one-time contribution from the Board of $288,490 would go to address loans and other administrative costs. All transfer stations would decrease operations to two days per week, and the Benton Crossing Landfill would close on all County-observed holidays.
The bad news: average users will see anywhere between a 9-12% increase in monthly fees. The good news: Carter indicated the County’s loss of more than $800,000 annually would drop to zero as of May 1. New days of operation, however, wouldn’t be implemented until July 1, when the new contract would go into effect.
Carter added that the revisions would give the County a “fairly reasonable buffer.” He pointed out that in March, tonnage increased, and overall to date is up 8-10%, the first such increase since the construction-related decline started in 2006.
One of the only public comments during the hearing was a fiery one from Bob Peters, who railed against the public meeting process. “Only two attempts have been made to inform the public … no one showed up in Mammoth and I’m the only one who showed up in Bridgeport,” he said. “You can’t get people informed about public meetings unless you send notices to their mailbox. They don’t read the papers or listen to the radio. As far as I’m aware, no attempts have been made to put this before north county RPACs, or conduct any surveys.” He suggested the Board refrain from approving anything until the public had been “meaningfully involved in this process.”
Supervisor Vikki Bauer conceded that the plan wasn’t disseminated in RPAC format, but called solid waste fixes “a difficult decision when you’re faced with losing $80,000 a month.”
Supervisor Tim Hansen had problems with the proposed schedule changes. “I went up to Twin Lakes and talked to the Annetts, owners of Annett’s Mono Village Resort, who pay the county a huge amount in disposal fees, and parcel and other taxes, and they need three days a week.” Annett’s is one of the north county’s biggest employers. An increase in tipping fees, Hansen suggested, would probably be fine, but two days a week would be too few, especially during busy seasons.
Chair Hap Hazard said he wasn’t “entirely satisfied” with the public notification, but said the discussion has been going on since last year’s budget. While the Board hasn’t been overwhelmed with citizens speaking out, Hazard observed there have had been some comments.
In any case, he declared that the fee changes were mandatory to control costs. “Hopefully things will [improve], but today we have to take action … we have to stop the leak,” Hazard said. “We have EMS, flood channel and other important issues, and communities are seeing that money channeled into propping up Solid Waste.” That said, he further agreed to examine Bridgeport as a special case, in deference to Hansen’s position.
Bauer, however, pushed for leaving schedules the way they are. “We’re micromanaging this,” Bauer remarked, “saying Bridgeport can make its own decisions, but for all the others, we’ll make the decisions.”
Johnston and staff, however, quickly concocted an alternate recommendation, amending staff’s proposal to take Hansen’s concerns into consideration. In the alternative plan, it would be left to the Bridgeport site’s management as to what days it would be closed, allowing the site to stay open on an as-needed basis, particularly during busier times, such as the summer season. Also, sludge fees were exempted from any increase, since that service is now covered under a separate agreement.
“We’re doing our job and being responsive to their communities, Hansen said. “It took a half-hour, but it was necessary.” Hazard groused about weighing the Bridgeport situation against $2 million in red ink, but was happy Hansen’s concerns were addressed. Hunt was also supportive, calling it “an important part of a long-term process.” Bauer ultimately relented, voting 5-0 with the Board to approve the final motion.
