Sundance and Moorcroft renew ties on trash issue

By Sarah Pridgeon

Contract in hand, Mayor Dick Claar visited the Sundance City Council on Tuesday and offered to once again open the Moorcroft landfill for the city’s use. The council approved the contract, which does not prevent Sundance from using other destinations but does provide access to the closest available landfill in this area.

“This contract doesn’t bind anybody to anything other than when you show up, it’s going to be $60 a ton,” Claar said.

The possibility of Sundance using Moorcroft’s landfill again was raised during discussions between Claar and Council Member Joe Wilson. Claar told the council Wilson had suggested he come before the council with a contract to facilitate discussion.

County solution

The agreement benefits both sides. While Sundance renews access to a cheaper transfer alternative, Moorcroft is hoping to build up business at its landfill to keep it open indefinitely.

“We’ve got to try to make this landfill a success or we’re going to lose it,” said Claar.

Moorcroft still hopes its landfill could become the area destination for trash transfer if Crook County is ever able to form a solid waste district. A district for the whole county – and possibly to include Weston County – has been a contentious issue over recent years that never found a solution, with some municipalities keener than others to take part and various stumbling blocks encountered along the way.

Claar expressed his hope that a solid waste district might still be formed, suggesting it could be raised again in around 2022. If the county does come together to solve its trash dilemmas, he added, “We’re going to need to build a pit, there’s no doubt in that.”

Brooks agreed that a county solution is still something Sundance would like to see. The Department of Environmental Quality has always planned for Gillette to become the regional destination, he said, but the City of Gillette even now does not seem overly keen on accepting outside trash and he does not believe the city “is sincere in their desire to help us”.

The contract Claar offered sets the rate at $60 per ton and runs until January 2021, said Claar, to be renewed either annually or biannually so as not to obligate a future council. As Moorcroft wants to welcome as much tonnage as possible, CW Waste, which is contracted to do trash pick-ups in Sundance, is also permitted to use the landfill.

Ease of access

Sundance ceased using Moorcroft’s landfill after experiencing issues that Mayor Paul Brooks attributed to the “instability” of Moorcroft’s previous administration. Problems with opening hours and access made it easier to continue on to Gillette, he said.

“I don’t think it was ever our choice to go to Gillette, it was just so hard to use it,” he said.

Public Works Director Mac Erickson expanded on his words, explaining that the landfill was only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which made it difficult to take trailers over as soon as they filled. Meanwhile, he said, the limited hours forced the city to take its trucks over on days when the conditions were muddy and the trailer would sometimes get stuck.

Claar confirmed that the landfill’s hours have now been extended and it will be open from Tuesday through Friday and the third Saturday of each month. He also expressed willingness to open the landfill at other hours for Sundance’s use if necessary, such as after an event like Rally Wednesday that creates extra trash.

Erickson declared himself happy with the freedom the contract offers to bypass Moorcroft’s landfill when necessary, such as if a big rainstorm would create conditions the city trucks could not easily traverse.

According to Erickson, it makes “perfect sense” to stop in Moorcroft rather than drive by to go to Gillette and pay more per ton when the truck gets there. “It makes sense for us to stop there and pay less,” he said. Erickson urged the council to sign the agreement on the basis it is not binding, which means it opens access while still allowing Sundance to work with Moorcroft’s Public Works Department to ensure the city trucks can use the landfill seamlessly.

The council voted to approve the contract contingent on City Attorney Mark Hughes reviewing the contract.