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editor@newslj.com
j ~ i~ ~ ~ ~:
news letter 0urnal ,
June 11, 2015 -- 7
1S
Alexis Shultz
NLJ Reporter
"Its going to be a big deal
for you guys, the smaller
f~wns," Senator Ogden Driskill
declared when he made an
appearance at the Weston
County Commissioner's
Meeting on June 2.
,He made the effort to attend
~e meeting because he wanted
to warn commissioners of
aotential costs of not solving
the ongoing solid waste dis-
posal issue that is facing the
county.
Driskill explained to the
Commission that the Wyoming
Department of Environmental
Quality, through their policies,
is making it harder and more
expensive to open and operate
landfills throughout the state.
He feels these issues affect
smaller communities, like
Weston County and its munici-
palities, more than they effect
the larger cities in Wyoming.
' "It's a problem, a big one,"
announced Driskill, adding that
as prices go up, the county
'will see more people culling
identifying information out of
their waste and throwing it into
ditches throughout the county.
He feels this can already be
seen in rural parts of Weston
County, and cautioned that
prices are not presently as high
as they will potentially become.
Driskill indicated that the
cost of waste disposal for
residents of this community,
if we are required to line pits
at existing or future landfills,
could reach an astonishing
$150 a month per household,
with smaller communities
seeing prices reach $250-
$300 a month if pit liners are
required.
Those costs could force
smaller communities to forego
landfills altogether, and haul
trash to locations that serve
larger regions, but Driskill
asserted that there isn't much
financial relief in that option
either.
"Policies don't seem to
favor becoming a regional
dump," professed Driskill,
expressing the opinion that
hauling waste to Casper is not
a feasible option for this com-
munity, and predicting that the
cost to haul trash to facilities
such as Gillette's could reach
$110 a ton.
The cost of opening a new
dump is going to become
increasingly more expen-
sive as well, according to the
Republican State Senator from
Devil's Tower, who asked the
commissioners what the life
expectancy of the current
Newcastle Landfill is. The
commissioners indicated that
city officials have predicted the
three available pits remaining
at the Newcastle Landfill
would last at least six years,
but they suggested a maximum
estimate could reach ten years.
Driskill encouraged the
county to address the issue of
solid waste in a timely manner
because he believes the DEQ
is only going to become more
restrictive.
"They are going to come
to ranches soon enough," pro-
claimed Driskill, predicting
that the agency will soon begin
using Google map images to
locate ranches that have per-
sonal landfills on them, and
that they will demand those get
cleaned up and the solid waste
disposed of properly.
"When it gets to that point,
it will be tough," Driskill pro-
fessed.
Some nights it feels like the whole town is gathered in one place. Where friends
are sharing stories and making memories. And the band is playing whatever the
people want to hear. That's community at its best. See videos that show this and
other values of community at
WHYCOMMUNITYMATTERS.COM
THE WAY BANKING SHOULD BE
MEMBER FDIC ~r,~
I
from page 1
Curley declared that the best option for the
county at this time would be to establish the
district and leave the current Central Weston
County Solid Waste District intact so that district
can continue to collect the three mills already
being levied on property owners within its
boundaries. Those monies are needed to pursue
the cease and transfer of the current landfill
outside of Osage.
The district proposed in Barton's resolution
would leave the current district as an island
in the middle of the larger district that would
encompass the rest of Weston County. Curley
suggested that this is the only option he is com-
fortable with at this time from a legal perspec-
tive, and said he would not be comfortable with
the county creating a district that would include
the current solid waste district located in Osage
because of the potential for legal challenges.
Barton believes his resolution addressed that
concern, however, and urged the commissioners
to move forward.
"The next step is creating a solid waste
district," declared Barton, adding that this would
allow for the commission to start filling the
board that would be in charge of the district
and the decisions that need to be made for that
listrict. He continued that it is important that the
9ounty starts down this path as soon as possible.
But Ertman moved to table the resolution
tmtil the June 16 meeting, claiming that she
would like more time for herself and Curley to
t
rewew the resolution that Barton had prepared.
.The commissioners had each received a copy of
the resolution at the beginning of the discussion
tt the June 2 meeting.
Ironically, Barton provided the second of
3rtman's motion to table so the group could
liscuss the motion.
"What would you like to review?"
Commissioner Randy Rossman asked Ertman
after she expressed her desire to delay a deci-
sion. Ertman replied that she personally just
wants time to look it over before she makes a
decision, and expressed the belief that Curley
needs time to review the resolution despite his
approval of it before he left the meeting.
Commission Chairman Bill Lambert,
however, announced that after reading the reso-
lution he would have no issue voting on it and
signing the resolution without reviewing the
document further, but despite the approval from
Curley, Barton and Lambert the commission
voted three to one to table the decision until their
June 16 meeting.
Barton was the only commission to vote
against the motion to delay, with Rossman,
Ertman and Commissioner Tracy Hunt voting in
favor 0fthe motion to table.
.~
Commission funds
Osage Waste Station
The Weston County Commissioners did
vote in favOr of allocating $40,000 to help
the Central Weston County Solid Waste
District reaching the $87,500 needed to
match a grant that the state may provide
to build a transfer station in Osage. It was
determined that Cyndi Crabtree and Joe
Wood Jr. would need to be able to inform
the state that they did have the entirety of
the.match monies needed for the grant the
state would provide if they voted to do so.
The decision on whether to not the grant
would be provided had not been made at
the time: of the June 2 meeting.
from page 1
Vacation bible
school
Ages: Z 9ears - 6t:h gracle
Come have lots ot:: t:un and win
[=or questions, contact Pastor Toctcl
the county. He told the News
Letter Journal the services
NWMH provide are essential
for the welfare and well-being
for any community.
"It just speaks to the vitality
and wellness of the commu-
nity if we have a good school
systems, good infrastructure
and good services to the elderly
and to those who have mental
illnesses. I am looking forward
to helping us to provide that,"
Olenyik said.
The two services the office
q,
m Newcastle provides are
basic mental health and sub-
stance abuse treatment. The
counselors are also able to
provide grief and loss coun-
seling, which is typically solu-
tion and coping focused, and
usually is short term.
"The more I've been in
the field, I am finding a sig-
nificant amount of issues are
related to grief loss in one
way or another. Those are the
three biggest underlying issues
that face folks unresolved
grief and loss and past trauma
issues," he explained.
The other side of the spec-
trum involve mental illnesses
such as Schizophrenia or
severe Psychosis, and those
need more significant, intense
treatment. Patients are seen on
a more regular'basis to main-
tain stability, and the goal for
those clients is to help them
have independence to function
in the community. Olenyik said
the key component in those
cases is usually medication.
Substance abuse treatment
is offered as an out-patient
program, and strongly regu-
lated by the state on how it
is offered and the number of
hours required.
"It is for the person who
has gotten a DUI or maybe a
second DUI, and is just needing
to look at their issues related
to substance abuse. That is a
whole specific protocol in and
of itself," Olenyik explained.
There are two other thera-
pists at the NWMH office in
Newcastle besides Olenyik.
Hope Phelon is a Licensed'"
Clinical Social worker, as
well as a Licensed Addiction
Therapist, and Myra Ford is
also an LAT. Diane Christensen
is a registered full-time nurse
and she oversees the medica-
tion program and the facility
boasts two office personnel,
Julie Domina and Elisabeth
Connley.
"They keep us on track.
We appreciate them," Olenyik
admitted with a smile.
June 9 - August 6
Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m.
Dow Park
Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m.
Centennial Park
Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.
Roby Park
Delaware St. (by Baptist Church)
Gray Addition
westonl.kl2.wy.us
IP
:
P
@
In Weston County
Out of County
Seniors (65+)
$45.50 [ Students, In State $27.00
$57.00 I Students, Out of State $33.00
$30.00 Active Military FREE
Name:
Mailing Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
1