WOODLANDS COUNTY - Woodlands County waste transfer stations will remain status quo, at least in the immediate future.
During their Dec. 20 meeting, Councillors opted against a recommendation from administration staff that would have seen the clearing of the trees and other vegetation around the transfer stations and the closure and removal of "Take it or Leave it" sites.
Instead, councillors, on a motion by the reeve and Anselmo Coun. Dave Kusch, councillors, instructed administration staff to research ways to make the sites more secure.
Airport and environmental services manager Steve Hollett said in recent years, the sites have been the target of after-hour usage, illegal dumping, and vandalism, all of which have come at considerable cost to the municipality.
"Broken gates, chains and locks cut or torn off repeatedly and cleanup of the illegal dumping are becoming almost a weekly, regular occurrence at all the transfer sites," he said.
Hollett said public works staff have attempted to do everything, from changing the styles of gates and different locking mechanisms to installing trail and security cameras, with little to no success.
"They find a way through no matter what," he said, adding the perpetrators usually end up stealing the security cameras and other equipment.
Hollett said they not only trash the sites and break their way into them but also often steal equipment such as propane heaters, fire extinguishers and the first aid kits transfer station staff required to do their jobs.
"We want to clear the trees from the roads to the transfer sites. This will increase visibility and employee safety, as most staff work alone," he said, adding he also recommends that they remove the "Take it or Leave it stations.
The estimated cost of clearing the transfer stations is $1,500.
Hollett said, at one time, the feature may have been helpful for residents.
"Now, people are just leaving their junk or weather-sensitive items, which our infrastructure staff have had to go through and help transfer site staff deal and dispose of as they are often too big to handle."
Kusch agreed with removing the Take it or Leave it sites, saying talking with residents at the Anselmo transfer station is more hassle than it is worth, and adding the items left to exchange was just garbage and useless to anyone. He also admitted that the fence, gates and other security measures were often damaged.
However, he still disagreed with removing the trees.
"Yes, the trees in front of the transfer stations do make it harder to see what is going on from the road, but on the other hand, they also make it more difficult to see the piles that are there, and residents don't want to see them as they are driving to the community hall," Kusch said. "What is the plan to deal with that."
Hollett admitted sightliness could be an issue but said staff work hard to ensure the piles stay manageable.
He said the municipality has a contract with a contractor in the Fort Assiniboine/Barrhead area to make regular pickups to ensure they don't.
"We also try to get the tire guys to come out regularly," he said, adding the only problematic area is wood waste. "The current conditions don't allow for burns so that they can become a sightliness issue."
Whitecourt East Coun. Jeremy Wilhelm asked if the transfer stations had security cameras.
Hollett said not at this time, reiterating that they have had little success with them.
He added that they were either stolen or vandalized when they did have them at the transfer stations.
"[Our security cameras] we have at other locations allow us to see what is happening and what people are doing; they are never good enough that we can do anything with [the footage]," Hollett continued.
Wilhelm suggested that the county give cameras and other security issues another go.
He added that regardless of whether the Take It or Leave It is removed, people will continue to use the sites for illegal dumping.
"Dumping has always been an issue, but if it is an ongoing security issue, we solve it with security," he said, adding security camera resolution has come a long way in recent years.
Fort Assiniboine-Timeu Coun. Devin Williams also liked the security camera route, noting the advances in trail camera technology.
Kusch interjected, saying camera resolution isn't the issue, but rather connectivity is the problem, adding that many transfer stations are in areas with poor to no connectivity and, in some cases, no electricity.
Blue Ridge Coun. Bruce Prestidge agreed security cameras are problematic and would come at considerable expense, adding they would require upgrading Internet connectivity and, in some cases, electricity, probably through solar panels, which also could prove troublesome and be a target for thieves.
Whitecourt Central Coun. Alan Deane asked if they could remove the trees with such a relatively low budget.
Hollett said they would, as the county would do much of the work in-house, and they should be able to monetize it.
Kusch said while he agreed with making the sites more visible, he was wary of removing so much vegetation as to make the garbage and refuse piles visible from the roadway.
Director of Infrastructure Andre Bachand said having the transfer stations be more visible should also curb after-hour use.
He added that at some transfer stations, especially in Fort Assiniboine and Goose Lake, copper wire thieves use them as a place to strip the wire.
"In the middle of the site, they will take the wire, put it in the gravel and start a fire to burn the casings off," Bachand said. "Increasing visibility should curb the fires as they will be seen from a distance."
Whitecourt West Coun. John Burrows said when many trees are removed, wind also becomes a factor in blowing refuse where it is not intended.
"It also an example of where a few bad apples are causing the problems, and you are going to mitigate it by cutting down all the trees and making [the transfer stations] not visibly attractive [to coin a phrase]," he said. "So, the residents in the area are being punished by the actions of a few. I suggest administration find a more robust security option ... Even if you must spend more money to keep the bad actors out, I would rather do that."
