What Really Stinks Is How A Few Spoil It For Many
I must be confused about the Colbert Compost Facility. I thought its purpose was to serve the more than 300,000 residents of Spokane County by eliminating yard waste from the waste-to-energy plant’s load-producing, useful, no-landfill-needed, politically correct compost. And, as a result, thousands of citizens have been taking their “clean green” to the various sites in Spokane County for free.
Unfortunately, the residents near the compost facility don’t like it. So much so that they’ve registered 1,500 complaints that resulted in one - count it, one - violation citation by the Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority. A very publicized, oft-mentioned violation, but still one.
Do you ever notice how slow people are to compliment, but how quick they are to complain?
When I vote in an election, I expect my candidate to act in the best interests of the most people, even if I don’t necessarily agree. Decisions made on a city or county level should never be based solely on the beliefs, or complaints, of 30 people when you’re looking at results that essentially affect a constituency of 300,000. Of course, any individual’s beliefs should be considered, but these few individuals have got themselves so worked up about this situation, they can no longer see straight - let alone smell straight.
Everyone always wants more, more, more, but not in their neighborhood. Lock up more criminals, but don’t build the jail near me. House the homeless, but not next door to me.
Well, folks, it’s got to go somewhere. As long as we value mowed lawns there’s a price to pay. And, incidentally, what are the compost complainers doing with their lawn waste? Are they hypocritically taking it to a transfer station for free? Are they burning it, which would also be hypocritical if they’re complaining about air quality? Are they adding it to their garbage, increasing the waste-to-energy plant load?
I am angry with the Spokane City Council’s shortsighted and potentially costly decision to close the facility. The city has had its own staff out at the site sniffing around for more than nine months, so why is the City Council spending time out there?
What do they think, better late than never? Don’t they trust the reports from their own staff? Disregarding the recommendations of a highly skilled, educated staff is suicidal.
The Regional Solid Waste Department has no vested interest in the existence of the facility. It doesn’t get paid more with it. Its people won’t lose their jobs without it. They just do the best work they can with the resources they’re given.
When you say, “Reduce the WTE load by more than 10 percent without using a landfill,” you get a composting site.
By the way, the changes made by O.M. Scott in the last six months have made a difference in air quality at the site; however, it appears that nothing short of the site’s elimination will appease those few residents.
Doesn’t the City Council represent the city in this joint city-county venture? These compost complainers neither elect the City Council nor pay their wages. Will I have to parade every person who has benefited from the facility past the City Council so they can get a true idea of which way the wind blows?
Please explain to me how it benefits the city and its citizens to stop the facility? I’m a city resident, and closing the facility is going to cost me money. Haven’t you figured it out yet? If they can’t take the yard waste for free, they’ve got to charge to take it.
Don’t the commissioners represent the county residents in the venture? Their staff at the Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority said, “Yep, one violation. That’s it.” And SCAPCA has stated it considers the facility to be in compliance with air quality codes. Heck, we violate more air quality standards with our cars and gravel roads and you don’t see people closing streets down. Are the compost complainers carpoolers too?
O.M. Scott has been ridiculed, harassed and shot at, and now it’ll probably sue our money-beleaguered city and county. Rates will be raised on garbage on more than 300,000 people, all to appease a few very vocal folks.
About those 1,500 complaints. If I call 10 times a night, is that one complaint or 10? If I call 50 nights in a row, are those 50 legitimate complaints? Are we really talking about 1,500 people or 15?
The squeaky wheel gets the oil - to heck with public good. Admit it, it’s easier to give in to a complainer than to stand up for what’s right.
So maybe everyone who’s afraid of rising rates or everyone who’s enjoyed free yard waste dumping should call the City Council or county commissioners and squeak a little about what’s good for more than 300,000 of us.
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