Drugs Disposal Idea Floated

WAITSBURG - The Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office is considering bringing a program to Waitsburg that would dispose of residents' prescription and illegal drugs to keep them out of sewer systems and landfills, but an inability to fund and staff the program could prevent its fruition.

The possibility of a oncea year pickup of prescription and illegal drugs was discussed at the Waitsburg City Council's meeting last Wednesday.

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), run by the sheriff's office, runs these projects around the country.

The drug pickup proposal was part of Sheriff John Turner's follow-up report on the matter to the council.

Turner is looking into funding assistance for the project, although he said it might be difficult to administer the program locally from a logistical and financial standpoint.

At least a few officers would be needed to staff a collection box and transport the drugs.

According to City Councilman Karl Newell, 10 million pounds of prescription drugs a year are buried in American landfills and flushed down toilets.

Drugs disposed of in this manner can leak chemicals into groundwater. Instead, drugs collected during a pick- up program run by sheriff's office would be incinerated.

Turner said he is worried his office would be unable to staff this program. He is still waiting to hear about possible funding for the project and will continue to discuss the proposed program.

In other business, Terry Morris and Darrick Dietrich were on hand, representing Basin Disposal Inc. (BDI), to discuss the city's trash collection contract, which is expires in September.

The council decided to wait to vote on a new contract at its next meeting.

Mayor Walt Gobel, who asked a number of questions, said he wants to consult with the city attorney on contract wording.

Dietrich said BDI hasn't raised its fees for the last nine years. He wasn't expecting any increases this year, although the company reserves the right to hike its fees if fuel prices spiral out of control.

Dietrich also said that if the city becomes unhappy with service, it is obligated to continue with the service for 10 additional years under the proposed contract. This stipulation is necessary, he said, because it's the only way his company can afford to finance expensive equipment and travel long distances and to provide service to every area in his franchise, rural and city.

Dietrich also said his company is regulated by the state utility commission to make certain that profits are reasonable.

City Clerk Randy Hinchliffe said that the city has explored buying its own trash collecting equipment and running a service of its own. The findings showed that such a service is not feasible, he said.

In other business, the council:

* Awarded the West 7th Street Waterline Project by unanimous vote to Sharp and Preszler Construction Inc.

* Revoked its previous approval of the Waitsburg Estate Subdivision application; no building activity has taken place.

* Voted to put the Coppei River Flood Control Project on the next county ballot.

* Decided to ask the local fire department about the possibility of burning down the city's "bunkhouse" as a training exercise. The city hasn't received any bids for destruction of the building.

Councilman Scott Nettles said he's heard complaints that someone might be living under the abandoned Grange building. The council voted to contact the Grange Association about fencing off the area.

* Learned from Hinchliffe that Waitsburg's library is considering joining a proposed county-wide library district that would share books on a computer database.

* Voted to change the city pool's lap swim hours to once a day (noon to 1 p.m.) three times a week. Hinchliffe noted that only two or three people have been taking advantage of the lap swim time.

* Changed a city ordinance to keep residents from having ongoing yard sales.

Policies about county inmate clean-up crews have changed. Crews continue to work at no cost along roadways, but fees are charged for other areas. The cost for a crew and supervisor is $27 per hour.