The Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee has scheduled two town hall meetings this month to gather ideas and input on curbside trash collection services. The meetings will be held in-person at the community center and virtually through Zoom.
The first meeting will take place on Sunday, October 16 at 2 p.m. (Zoom link bit.ly/3Mt5dNw) and the second is scheduled for Saturday, October 22 at 4 p.m. (Zoom link bit.ly/3CxWNA8). The impetus behind the town halls is the impending expiration of the curbside service contract between the county and Cando Recycling, the company that provides the service. This contract is separate from the lease of the solid waste facility between the two entities. That contract was renewed for a five-year term on March 31, 2021.
PRCAC chair Alli Calder advised fellow committee members that an invitation to have a representative from the county health department at PRCAC’s September 16 meeting was rebuffed. Whatcom County environmental health specialist Jennifer Hayden emailed Calder that “I shall not be available to attend a townhall meeting. The solid waste system that was implemented to serve Point Roberts followed two years of public process including county council’s decision. The county is committed to support the system which provides a high level of service to residents at a relatively low cost.”
Calder expressed surprise, saying it was strange given that it was the county which suggested gathering input.
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MRobbins
Jennifer Hayden/WCHD's negative response to PRCAC's invitation does seem surprising based on Allison Calder's assertion that it was the County that suggested gathering community input in the first place. I wonder if APB could drill down a bit on that, to more fully explain what the County said to PRCAC, in what context, and by whom.
I really hope that these town hall meetings do not degenerate into rehashing old procedural grievances and personality issues. What I would like to see come out of them is a feasible plan, agreeable to all parties (including CANDO), to institute curbside commercial recycling and more convenient green waste disposal. I would like to see the County more proactive in public education to promote waste reduction, recycling, and reuse.
Thursday, October 13, 2022 Report this