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The station, where Lakeport residents can take garbage for transfer to the county's Eastlake Landfill, is located on Bevins Street in Lakeport.
Public Services Director Kim Clymire told the board that the transfer station's tonnage and the number of customers using the facility both have declined by 66 percent over the last seven years.
In 2002, the station handled half of the county's landfill tonnage. In the most recent review of the transfer station's tonnage numbers, Clymire said it had declined to 9 percent.
That, coupled with aging equipment that will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair or replace, has encouraged the county to work with Lake County Waste Solutions, which is upgrading its transfer station at 230 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport in order to be able to take on the waste stream from the Bevins Street facility.
The board voted 3-1 in March of 2008 – with Supervisor Anthony Farrington voting no – to support Lake County Waste Solutions in its facility upgrade in order to allow the county to close the transfer station, as Lake County News has reported.
Lake County Waste Solutions' project is moving forward; Clymire said the company expects to have its new transfer station open by Monday, Oct. 5.
“This, as far as I'm concerned, is a win-win,” said Clymire.
He said it will improve service; at the same time, the company has agreed to keep their rates at the same level as the county's.
Clymire said Lake County Waste Solutions is increasing its efforts to divert more materials from the landfill, which will increase its life.
Recently, the company starting diverting asphalt roofing shingles, Clymire said. In one day, they took 17 tons of the shingles, and are working with another company to turn the shingles into asphalt materials for road work.
Clymire said closing the Lakeport Transfer Station will save the county $250,000 a year.
On the downside, it will necessitate eliminating three positions as of October; however, Clymire said a man who holds one of those positions is retiring in July, and two others – heavy equipment operators – are interviewing in other county departments.
Supervisor Jim Comstock said he supported transferring services from government to private enterprise, and commended Public Services' handling of the personnel issues resulting from the station's closure.
One issue that still needs to be determined is what will happen to the station.
Clymire said the city owns the property, but the county owns the improvements and equipment. The latter, which includes two tractors and trailers, will be determined surplus. He said the county and city need to sit down and discuss the property's future use and improvements.
Clymire's report noted that Public Services contacted the state waste board's local enforcement agency to deal with any regulatory issues associated with the closure.
Farrington acknowledged that he has been against closing the transfer station. He said he has been enlightened, but wants to see the level of service maintained.
He emphasized that he wants a lefthand turn lane into Lake County Waste Solutions' facility in place before the new transfer station opens.
The turn lane issue has been an issue for several years. In a December 2008 Lake County Planning Commission meeting where Lake County Waste Solutions' project was approved, it was noted that use permits on the property have, since 1998, called for the road improvements.
The company – known as Timberline Disposal under previous ownership – has agreed to make the improvements now. Bruce McCracken, who worked for the previous owners, and two partners purchased the company in 2007.
Clymire said the Lakeport Transfer Station will continue operating if Lake County Waste Solutions doesn't open on Oct. 5.
McCracken told the board that all of the facility's permits through the state have been approved, and it's also received its approvals through the Lake County Planning Department. He said the company still has to receive its building permits, and they can't build the facility until the turn lane is completed.
The new facility will have a bigger floor so the company's staff can sort recyclables out of garbage, said McCracken. He anticipated hiring more staff; he's already hired 10 new people to sort trash at the company's Ukiah station.
McCracken added, “This left turn lane haunts me still.”
Farrington said it haunts everyone, which is one of the reasons he's held back on his support for the project.
Supervisor Rob Brown suggested the Bevins Street transfer station could become a site for quagga mussel inspections.
He said he felt the same way as Farrington regarding the closure. Two years ago the county could have offset the station's financial losses, but now they have to look at other options, including closure.
“The time has come,” he said.
Farrington moved to approve going forward with closing the county's transfer station, which was approved 5-0.
The board also unanimously approved amendment No. 3 to the county's agreement with Lake County Waste Solutions to allow the company to establish a rate of $35 per ton for wood waste.
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