During its regularly scheduled meeting on June 10, the Fremont County Board of County Commissioners tabled a decision on the Phantom Canyon Landfill extension.

“Twin Enviro has requested approval of modification of a special review use,” said Commissioner Dwayne McFall during the public hearing. “The file number is SRU 98-007 Twin Enviro major modification to allow for a vertical and lateral expansion of a landfill. The expansion includes expanding the limits of waste by approximately 100 feet along the current waste limit southern boundary and includes raising the final waste covered graves along the southern portion of the landfill. The 77.82 acres is located off of County Road 67 in Penrose and is within an agricultural … zone district.”

McFall reminded everybody that there were some contingencies that were stated on the staff report.

“(The contingencies) were approval of modification of certificate of designation, modification for state and local,” he said. “Approval of the storm water drainage plan, which I believe has been approved now; the conditions where the berm located on the south to increase in conjunction with the vertical expansion in the manner where it exceeds the height of the work area at all times; the use of the interior fencing and other measures required to utilize to limit debris at the site. Cleanup of the surrounding area needed to be increased in frequencies, specifically to the east for that debris that may flow off the grounds and the berm along the western boundary to be increased as needed to maintain the level of limit to visibility from County Road 67. So those were the contingencies and the conditions from the last public hearing recommended by the Planning Department.”

At the beginning of the hearing, Twin Enviro General Manager Chris Brochu presented a power point presentation, showing the improvements made onsite, including movable fencing, fencing on the north side of the property. The company also added a quarter inch mesh tennis net that expands the entire east fence. He also addressed the hogbacks to include erosion control and vegetation.

However, neighbors did not agree with his presentation, including Susan Lapierre, who once drove trucks from a transfer station to a landfill.

“I am not anti-landfill. We need them to exist in a healthy environment, but in a correct location,” she said. “The name says it all. It is a landfill, located at the only low elevation entrance to Phantom Canyon.”

“The landfill was told by the county when they first (permitted) it that reclamation of the land was to be done,” Lapierre added. “It hasn't been done in all of these years.”

She stated it hurts the tourism industry, as well.

Others also spoke against the landfill included Quinn Slate, who said he is not opposed to them running a business.

“The 8-foot fencing isn't adequate,” he said. “There's always been trash coming off of the dump. If the cattle or calf eats that, they're going to end up putting them down.”

The next thing it's still an eyesore that can been seen from U.S. 50, Slate added.

At that point, Joe Rall stated reasons why the landfill should have the extension.

“It's a landfill,” he said. “It's not the prettiest thing we're going to see. I think it's been a benefit to this county for the last 20 years it's been here. I see it's been a good corporate citizen for the county. I think we shouldn't push this problem to someone else with the technology, the ability and the experience to increase the landfill and do the things they've been saying. As far as I know, they've met all the state and federal regulations, even our county regulations as far as inspections. I think they are still in the process of improving that.”

After Brochu assured the commissioners that all of the contingencies will or have been met.

“This has been again a pretty contentious issue for this board,” said Commissioner Debbie Bell. “I know it was very controversial back in 1997 when it was first permitted. This feels like one of the decisions no matter what we do, not everyone's going to be happy.”

At that point, she made a motion to table the decision until the next commissioners meeting, which will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 22. The motion was unanimously approved with several comments from Commissioners Kevin Grantham and McFall.