Residents, KDOT, sheriff and hauler representatives press for fixes after repeated roadside litter near Crawford County landfill

Representatives of a private waste-hauler, county officials and residents spent the bulk of a Crawford County Commission meeting pressing for steps to reduce litter and debris blown from transfer trailers and roll-off trucks traveling to the county landfill.

At the meeting, Jason Fitzgerald, identified as the company’s Government Affairs director, said the operator fields about "a thousand to 1,200 calls a day" and that the company is tracking missed calls and service disruptions. Fitzgerald described steps the company says it is taking to hold third-party transfer contractors to contract standards, including requiring proper tarping and gate closure and reiterating contract language that trailers be swept before exiting the landfill.

The discussion centered on trash being lost from open-top transfer trailers and subcontracted trucks after loads leave the company’s transfer station and are hauled to the Oak Grove/County landfill area. Fitzgerald said the company uses third-party haulers for longer transfers and that once material is in a subcontractor’s trailer it is that subcontractor’s operational responsibility. "Once it gets into their trailer, their truck, is responsible to making sure that that ends up in the landfill," he said. Fitzgerald also said the operator can give more pointed language to subcontractors and perform route observations.

Residents and local officials described frequent litter along major roads leading to the landfill. Craig Stokes, who said he lives a quarter-mile from the Oak Grove landfill gate, told commissioners he watches litter build up and urged coordinated action. Resident Don Lipichak similarly described regular debris along Highway 69 and said more enforcement is needed.

Sheriff Willie told the meeting enforcement would intensify. "We're gonna tow your trucks," he said, adding deputies and state troopers will write citations for unsafe or noncompliant vehicles. Jeffrey Fisher, who identified himself as working for KDOT, said he has observed much less roadside litter in comparable corridors managed under different operating plans and noted that some landfills run daily cleanup crews as part of their operating plans.

Discussion touched on specific causes the company and residents cited: torn or ill-fitting tarps, trailers that are tipped at the landfill and damage the tarp, unsecured loads on long-haul transfers and contract drivers unfamiliar with local restrictions. Fitzgerald said the company can require subcontractors to sweep trailers before exiting the landfill gate and can convene meetings with subcontractors to review tarping and cleanup procedures. He offered to help connect county staff with landfill operations managers to discuss possible joint cleanup efforts and operating-plan commitments.

Several speakers asked the company for a direct contact number to report incidents. Fitzgerald said he would leave his card and follow up. Sheriff Willie and KDOT representatives said they will continue active enforcement and route observations; the sheriff noted the county will investigate illegal dump sites as well.

The commission requested follow-up after the company and landfill manager review operating plans and subcontractor practices; Fitzgerald and the county said they would coordinate additional meetings with the landfill’s manager, identified in the discussion as Matt.

The meeting record shows no formal county action (motions or votes) on the trash topic itself during that session; commissioners and staff instead sought follow-up meetings, enforcement and written commitments from the landfill operator and third-party haulers.