CFBB advocates for green box sites
As Bigfork and Lakeside face closure of their green box sites, the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork is taking an advocacy role on behalf of the community according to president Paul Mutascio. On Thursday afternoon the CFBB discussed challenges ahead for the village in regards to keeping the green box site active.
Consolidation of Bigfork’s green box site was on Flathead County Solid Waste Board’s agenda for their meeting that was held yesterday after the Bigfork Eagle went to press.
During last week’s meeting, the CFBB discussed what they would like to see happen such as a new study with a broader scope of impact that includes unincorporated villages.
Mutascio said the 2009 study only looked at ways to reduce the county’s direct solid waste operating costs without looking at the broader financial, economic, safety and environmental issues and recycling needs.
“Out concern is it is too narrow and faulty, and doesn’t make sense for the urban-rural mix, and is biased for urban with curbside pickup,” Mutascio said. “Nothing against the private sector, but it is there for profit. Solid waste is the responsibility of the government.”
Mutascio estimated the cost for curbside pickup for Bigfork area residents to be somewhere between $280 and $560 per year depending on circumstances such as whether or not bear-proof receptacles are required in addition to transportation costs to and from the landfill near Whitefish or the green box sites in Somers or Creston.
“The less fortunate are going to get hit the hardest,” Mutascio said. “One thing that is a glaring error in the report is the Bigfork site is unsafe and I brought to their (the solid waste board) attention that highway 82 is 70 miles per hour with no turning lane.”
Highway 82 is where the Somers green box site is located, and where Bigfork and Lakeside residents would be directed to take their garbage when and if each of the sites are closed. CFBB member Hilary Shepard said she was concerned that the additional driving would lead Bigfork area residents to start dumping their trash in the woods or increase the amount of unauthorized garbage dumped in local businesses’ receptacles.
In other CFBB news:
• Gretchen Gates said the Bigfork Promotion Group signed a contract for a billboard in Missoula advertising Bigfork. The current billboard design advertising Bigfork as a Christmas village will transition into a Fourth of July themed one as the summer months approach.
• ACES director Cathy Gaiser said the afterschool program is projected to have a $20,000 surplus and should remain in good financial standing once their grant from the Montana Office of Public Instruction runs out.