Solid Waste Department Topics Lead Aug. 7 Commission Meeting
 | Author:
Linda Kent, MT43 News Staff Reporter
MT43 News Correspondent |
Solid Waste Department Topics Lead Commission Meeting
Linda Kent
MT43 News Staff Reporter
The Aug. 7 Broadwater County Commission meeting opened with often-pointed criticism of the commission and county solid waste department’s recent action. Under fire: the attempt to recover un-billed and under-billed solid waste assessments from previous tax years and the decision to close the remaining walk-in canister sites in the county.
“I do not believe we taxpayers should be responsible for someone else’s mistakes,” Tammy Rauser told commissioners during the open public comment portion of the meeting. “I, for one, did not intentionally fail to pay my solid waste fees. I have always paid my taxes.”
Rauser said she feels the un-billed assessments should be dissolved. She also asked that the term “fee” should replace “assessment” for billings going forward.
“I am requesting an honest explanation,” Rauser said, closing her statement.
Commissioners do not respond to public comments made on non-agenda items.
Bob Davis asked for clarification on when fees not previously assessed would be due. The county’s letter to those with unbilled assessments indicated a due date of May 31, 2025. Payment arrangements are available by contacting the solid waste department.
Gayle Watson made several critiques of recent changes, noting the hours it had taken her to review her business financials to verify that the assessments she was being asked to pay were not previously billed.
The failure to bill assessments rose to the level of “financial incompetence,” Watson told commissioners.
Watson then turned her statement toward the recent decision to remove walk-in cans at most of the county’s solid waste sites and replace those with extended hours at Cedar Street and the transfer station. She asked the commission to consider those, particularly those living in Toston and Radersburg, for whom a 20-mile drive to drop off household waste at the Cedar Street site would be a hardship.
She also asked the commission why the “weigh to pay” system, where individuals pay a fee to dump non-household materials, such as construction waste and similar items, was not paying for itself.
Ultimately, Watson said, “Just like any other person, we’re going to try to find a way to cut our costs.” She indicated that her business and family had contracted with Tri-County Waste Disposal for solid waste removal.
County Public Works Director TJ Graveley commented during discussion of a different topic that the county still pays a “tipping fee” to Tri-County when the contractor disposes of waste from Broadwater County residents at a landfill.
Watson closed her comments by telling the commission, “Honestly, I think we should be innovative,” indicating that she hoped the county would explore solutions to the solid waste issue rather than just replicating what had been done elsewhere.
Solid waste also appeared on the regular agenda, with county Assistant Public Works Director Misty Masolo presenting two resolutions: one to allow the department to assess and collect late fees for solid waste fees and a second to establish a canister rental policy for public use of the county’s solid waste canisters.
Masolo said the county currently has more than $38,000 in $10 fees for non-household solid waste, with more than $20,000 of that 90 days or older. The assessment of late fees was intended to compensate the county for the administrative costs of billing past-due fees as well as to improve the urgency for those being asked to pay.
Responding to a question from Commissioner Lindsay Richtmyer, Masolo told the commission that the department was close to being able to accept waste fee payments at the sites.
Both resolutions were tabled for the Aug. 13. meeting.
