After some feedback from Green River residents, the city Council came to a consensus at Tuesday’s meeting about the future location of the solid waste transfer station.
The Council approved to keep the site where it’s been planned for, where the current scale house for the landfill is now on the corner of Upland Way and the gateway to Highway 530 near South Hill.
Planning for the Upland Way location had been officially voted and decided on in the past, and has been in the planning since 2009. More recently, another possible location to construct the transfer station was discussed; between the waste water treatment plant and the horse corrals, on East Teton Boulevard.
Each council representative spoke their piece about why they made their decision, most to stay with the currently planned location. Some mentioned adding another option to the mix, and put the station on top of the hill, where the landfill is now. Hurtles for that location though, councilman Gary Killpack said would be too long of a timeline, and the site has a lack of licensing and power.
“Right now we don’t have time, grants or licensing,” Maes said. “It would be a shame to lose any grant money. We’re kind of at a critical time because of the closing up of the landfill.”
Beautification screening methods and odor correction methods can be utilized at the location on Upland Way as well.
Comments were also made about visibility of the location on East Teton from the interstate. That area by the river is visible coming into town.
Other comments were made again about the garbage, unsightliness and odor of the site next to the Greenbelt.
The council did receive some resident feedback.
One letter opposing the site’s location near the Greenbelt had nearly 20 residents’ signatures in opposition.
To sum her feelings up at the end of the meeting, Councilwoman Lisa Maes reminded everyone what a gem and commodity the Green River is to the city. She mentioned the Blue Canopy study that was done a couple years ago which states the river is Green River’s most important asset.
She said the study showed, “In all assets Green River has, it’s the most important one to the city.”
“Study after study says we should enhance our river because that is an attraction to our city,” Maes said.
She said maybe there would be better use for that area of property than the solid waste transfer station, one that would better compliment the river, alongside the green belt and ball park.
“I just think Green River has an asset in the river and it is a beautiful river and we should appreciate that and not build those kinds of things there, and look at ways to enhance it even more for the enjoyment for citizens and people to come,” Maes said. “It is an attraction and anything we can do to enhance it for the future is betterment for the future.”
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