Transfer station gets conceptual designs

Members of the Upper North Platte Solid Waste District (landfill board) were presented with a conceptual design of their new transfer station.

Craig Kopasz, an engineer with local design firm PMPC, stated the current project has an estimated cost of 1.2 million dollars. With the landfill board expected to receive around $700,000 in State Land and Investment Board grants and loans, chairman Randy Raymer and Kopasz agreed there was some wiggle room in the construction numbers. However, all board members agreed they would be willing to spend extra to have a top-notch facility for the Platte Valley

As it was presented to the board, the design calls for the transfer station to be built on a five-acre lot and will include a large covered area for waste sorting.

There may be some design alterations in order to reduce cost of the transfer station.

“This is not a final design, that will be when we figure out the specifics of the building,” Kopasz said. Raymer said his goal for the next transfer station is to have it be a single-contained unit with a large enough facility to not only meet all of the waste and recycle needs of the Platte Valley, but also an environment were the supervisor can oversee all of the operations taking place at the transfer station.

After sitting in on the joint water and sewer board’s public hearing, Raymer thought the board should address landfill fees for multi-unit buildings.

Much like the water fees for the town of Saratoga, all multi-unit buildings, trailer parks and communities pay one fee for their properties. Raymer thought making alterations to the way they charge for landfill fees would help the board bring in additional revenue, which could be beneficial for the upcoming transfer station project.

After deliberation, the landfill board decided to look into the matter further before making a decision.

The next landfill board meeting will take place at 7 p.m., Nov. 5 at the Encampment Library.