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Rota public works seeks equipment, fuel and landfill upgrades; landfill permitting gaps flagged
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Summary
Rota Department of Public Works asked the House committee for funds to repair heavy equipment, to pay for rental back‑up during disasters and to address landfill permitting and operations; committee members urged grants and interagency coordination to secure bulldozers and facility upgrades.
George A. Antolic, resident director of Public Works for Rota, told lawmakers June 5 that the department holds several capital assets but still needs additional heavy‑equipment repair funding, contingency rental authority for peak events and support to bring landfill operations into compliance.
Antolic said DPW maintains roads and grounds with a limited equipment fleet supplemented by CIP purchases. He requested repair and maintenance funding for heavy equipment, and said the department occasionally must rent equipment after storms. On solid waste, branch manager Albert Tovis told the committee the landfill lacks proper heavy spreader/grader assets and that the site is not permitted; water testing and permitting efforts are under way but the dumping site requires major cleanup and investment.
Why it matters: Proper equipment and a permitted landfill are foundational to public health, solid‑waste management and road access. Antolic warned that without working dozers and graders the municipality cannot effectively respond to storms or maintain right‑of‑way access.
Key details: - Staffing and equipment: DPW reported 28 total personnel across functions; roads and grounds and solid waste divisions are operating with limited equipment. DPW said it has some machinery funded by CIP but not all items are functioning. - Landfill: Antolic described the Rota disposal site as operating without full permitting and said EPA/technical sampling and permitting steps are in progress; the site needs certified heavy equipment to meet operations standards. - Revenue and revolving funds: Equipment rental fees and some building‑inspection fees are collected locally but historically routed to the general fund; the department asked committee members to consider pilot language allowing municipalities to retain equipment‑rental and auction proceeds locally and to use them for DPW operations.
Committee response: Members urged DPW to pursue grant options for large equipment purchases and to work with the municipality and central DPW to repair or replace a disabled D6 grader reportedly discussed with Saipan’s central office. Lawmakers signaled support for pilot language to localize proceeds from equipment rentals and auctions so DPW can fund maintenance and tipping‑fee modernization locally.
