Robbinsville – Plans were set in motion Tuesday night for the county to begin re-opening its closed sanitation centers.
For the second time in 2024, the Graham County Board of Commissioners shut down five of the county’s dumpster sites June 15. The first closure occurred Jan. 1, and was a result of misuse and vandalism; the second followed after complaints were made to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality about non-household garbage being left at unmanned centers across the county.
Ironically, the commissioners shut down the sites in January for that same reason. Three weeks later, they reversed course while listening to public input and discussing options at Jan. 23’s board meeting.
There was more confidence in the room when the topic was broached Tuesday. Sanitation director Gavin Colvard had asked for guidance from the board on what steps needed to be taken: in a 4-1 vote, the first decision was to get the popular Bear Creek site off U.S. Highway 129 back up and running.
Repairs to the fence surrounding the center will cost over $11,000, but power can be easily accessed and the county already has a building to place at the site for a guard.
Commissioners discussed the idea of having Bear Creek open on a staggered schedule with other sites in the county, but no finalized schedule or timeline for opening was agreed upon.
A universal consensus existed that a public hearing needed to be scheduled as soon as possible, to gauge input before settling on the best course of action.
An overhaul to a 2003 trash ordinance was also tossed about, including hefty fines and cameras to discourage violators.
Currently, East Buffalo, Stecoah and the main transfer center near Milltown are the only three facilities open for trash drop-off in Graham County.
The 2-½ hour meeting also included an attempted negotiation by Samuel Farley with Farley Contracting & Disposal, who worked out an agreement with commissioners while the county was sorting out the garbage problem in January. He told the board Tuesday night that he went into July without having to pay for hauling off residential garbage, but charges have started back.
The board countered by saying that as a for-profit business, he had to be charged – as a commercial customer.
The county agreed to research and determine a reasonable rate, adding that Farley is providing a terrific service for residents.
In line with the commercial charges, $14,561.20 was written off in garbage fees for the Town of Robbinsville. The county and municipality have met recently to go over the guidelines for future charges.
To watch the meeting in its entirety, visit The Graham Star’s YouTube page.
Next week: Updates on “The Hut,” plus potential employers show interest in Graham County.