Despite a staff recommendation to the contrary, Castlegar council has voted to keep the city’s yard waste composting site open.
The site was opened over a decade ago to discourage backyard burning and illegal dumping, giving residents a place to dispose of yard waste which is then turned into compost and given back to the community or used on city projects.
It had been eyed for closure once the new curbside composting program begins this summer, but after hearing from residents and groups who wanted it left open, city staff presented council with some options this week.
Municipal services manager Chris Hallam told council the facility costs about $125,000 per year to run, including 1,115 hours of staff time and equipment that could be dedicated to other services. If it closed, residents could still take yard waste to the landfill, he noted.
However, with one exception, councillors were unwilling to agree to a closure.
Councillor Brian Bogle said it has been the second-most talked about issue during his time on council, next to the Brandson Park development.
“I’ve not had one person say they think [closing it] is a great idea,” he said.
“I’m sure there are people who support it. None have reached out to me. Unanimously they have been saying ‘I don’t want it closed, I don’t care about the cost on my taxes, I don’t care if people are taking advantage of it. There’s no viable alternative.'”
Councillor Sandy Bojechko agreed, saying the site helps residents achieve FireSmart objectives by removing vegetation near their homes. She also said the site is more convenient for city residents than driving to the Ootischenia landfill and they appreciate getting free compost.
Mayor Maria McFaddin said if people are willing to pay for the service regardless of the duplication the curbside program will create, she also supports leaving it open. She added that a year from now the facility may not be needed any more.
While councillor Cherryl MacLeod also supported keeping the facility open, she said she was concerned about commercial and non-resident use.
“I truly don’t believe the City of Castlegar needs to pay for something that people drive in from Trail and wherever else to use it,” she said.
She is also worried the large piles of brush pose a fire hazard: “It’s a valuable place but it comes with some risks. We’re all over the CPR about ties at the end of town and they are a fraction of the height of the wood piles.”
Sue Heaton-Sherstobitoff, the lone councillor in favour of closing the facility, said she has heard from people both for and against, but most strongly from those who don’t want to pay for duplication of services.
She was also concerned landscaping and tree businesses and out-of-town residents have been using the facility and said the land is “prime real estate” that could be used for future rec centre additions. She felt council is just delaying the inevitable by keeping the facility open and that the new organics program presents a good opportunity for its closure.
Council is expected to revisit the decision in about a year, after the curbside composting program has been in place for a while.
Resident Val Field, who came armed with a petition calling for the facility to be left open, praised council’s decision, but asked that the next time they discuss the matter the community be given more official head’s up.
“You all expressed how the citizens have talked to you and how this is a big issue,” she said. “It would great if we had a little bit more public information out there, but I do appreciate your decision.”
