Board debates $1M convenience‑center grading, compactors and bear problems; adopts revised tire fee schedule

The Board of Supervisors spent extensive time on Aug. 12 discussing solid‑waste operations after staff reported a proposed convenience‑center site that would require substantial earthwork and grading. The planning options presented ranged from about $1.02 million to $1.4 million depending on grading, pond size and export assumptions; the county also reported approximately $678,000 in available funds toward the project. Board members and staff debated whether spending large sums to prepare the current site was fiscally prudent or whether the county should seek flatter land with less grading or pursue compactors and manned convenience sites as an alternative. Supervisors repeatedly cited the county’s bear problem (bears accessing loose trash at green‑box sites), public‑safety liability concerns when bears and unsecured dumpsters attract people and wildlife, recurring public complaints about illegal dumping and the risk of habituating bears to food sources. Staff described recent operational steps: moving some recycling boxes, adding cameras at problem sites, and planning…