Green-box proposal moving forward

The Daily Inter Lake

A decision on a proposed consolidated green-box site for Marion and Kila could be made at the Flathead County Solid Waste board's March 24 meeting.

A public hearing last week addressed whether the board should consolidate the county's Kila and Marion trash-collection sites to a location on Ashley Lake Road, near the intersection with U.S. 2 West.

On Tuesday, board members said road safety and personal safety at the proposed isolated site appeared to be the greatest concerns raised in the Feb. 18 hearing attended by more than 100 people.

Some board members were not at the Feb. 18 hearing and wanted time to watch a DVD recording of the public's remarks.

Also by March 24, the board expects to receive more detailed cost breakdowns for the current and proposed disposal set-ups.

"We really didn't find any new issues or issues not mitigated," Public Works Director Dave Prunty told the commissioners this week. "We think we've done all our homework."

One of the last details, a Montana Environmental Policy Act review of the Ashley Lake Road site, has been completed. The State Land Board still has to approve an easement for the new site.

The proposal is to close the Kila and Marion green-box sites as early as this summer and build a joint collection site about halfway between the two communities.

While most residents in that area agree the Kila site is too small and needs to be relocated, Marion residents very much want to keep their fenced site.

Commissioner Joe Brenneman wondered if Marion residents could volunteer their time to maintain the site. It's costing the county about $600 a month or more to contract maintenance services that involve opening and closing the gate each day.

"We'd need a bid from the community to do it for zero dollars," Brenneman said. "If they can show they can keep it clean … don't we have somewhat of an obligation to keep it open?"

No action was taken on Brenneman's suggestion.