Commissioners Maintain Status Quo On Dump Site

Residents of the Clark Fork area will continue to use a problem-ridden dump site, because on Thursday the Bonner County commission decided not to decide what to do about it.

Commissioner Dale Van Stone moved to proceed with plans for a larger dump site further to the west, at Denton Slough. Although some have protested that it would be an ugly addition to the shore of Lake Pend Oreille and infringe on a wetland, he said no decision ever would be popular.

No one would second his motion.

Then Commissioner Larry Allen suggested making the best of the current dump site by having a county staffer there as much as possible, and keeping the Denton site as a future alternative.

No one seconded that motion, either. But Allen’s idea will happen by default.

County solid waste coordinator Tim Elsea said he would have staff patrol and clean up the Clark Fork site as often as possible, and would ask the planning commission to extend for two years the permit allowing a dump site at Denton Slough.

Elsea investigated the idea of expanding the existing site, but was told by the Idaho Transportation Department an expansion would require the addition of a $1 million left turn lane off state Highway 200.

The main problems at the Clark Fork site reportedly are caused by contractors who illegally dump waste there, and Montana residents who use the site but pay no taxes to maintain it. The Denton site would be large enough to handle commercial waste and would be farther from Montana.

In other business, the commission approved hiring a consultant to begin research for a county comprehensive plan; delayed a discussion of a sheriff’s department drug testing policy; and agreed to pay family medical benefits while employees are collecting workers compensation.