Following the completion of a countywide survey, hours have once again been modified for anyone wishing to haul off refuse to local sanitation centers.
The county declared plans to roll out a new schedule July 1 – which would have trimmed availability at two sites down to four days a week – but canceled the launch after receiving the results of an online poll. The 336 responses led to officials pivoting on its originally-announced schedule.
The new plan went into effect Monday and is as follows:
* Bear Creek: Wednesdays, Noon – 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
* East Buffalo: Tuesdays, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.; Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Sundays, 1-5 p.m.
* Stecoah: Mondays, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.; Tuesdays, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Wednesdays, Noon – 8 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Additionally, the main sanitation center at 302 Snowbird Road will remain open 24/7.
The results of the survey were shared at a special-called Graham County Board of Commissioners meeting June 29. Of note:
* The main site off Snowbird Road was said to be the most-visited, attaining 39% of the vote. This was followed by Bear Creek (24.1%); Stecoah (20.8%); and East Buffalo (18.1%).
* An overwhelming amount of responses indicated that visits to a sanitation site occur more than once a week (72.9%). One trip per week garnered 20.2%, with the rest being on an infrequent basis.
* Saturday proved to be the most popular day, with 69.4% preferring the final day of the week. This was followed by Monday, at 52.8%; Wednesday, 51.2%; Friday, 49.1%; Thursday, 48.5%; Tuesday, 46.6%; and Sunday, 39.2%. Saturday was also the preferred day for the site to be open on the weekend (79.6%).
* Responses indicated a desire to visit a site in the evening, with 48% stating that their usual time to haul off refuse is 4-6 p.m. After 6 p.m., was close behind (46.2%); while 2-4 p.m., is the preferred timeframe for 30.6%.
* Over half of those surveyed said that if any additional costs were associated with increasing operating hours for the sites, they would prefer the current schedule and the no-charge policy (50.5%). Adding hours – even if costs increase slightly – would be preferred by 22.8%; and 11.2% said a reduction of hours to save money would be the best route.