Public works director warns of staffing shortages at recycling canister sites; cites dumping and out-of-county use

Broadwater County Public Works Director TJ Gravely told the commission during public comment that the county is short-staffed at canister recycling sites and expects those shortages to continue as school dismissals reduce applicant availability.

Gravely said the county has added help-wanted signs at the canister sites and posted job openings on the county website, and asked anyone over 18, retirees or people interested in part-time income to apply. He described a roughly two- to three-week window in which staff are trying to “get ahead” of the seasonal shortage.

Gravely said unattended sites previously suffered from improper disposal and illegal dumping — including motor oil in five-gallon drums, transmissions left on the ground, mattresses and refrigerators — and that county crews have paid to clean up those materials. He said out-of-county users contributed to the problem, noting that when walking cans were closed at another site, out-of-county dumping diminished.

Gravely told the commission, “People were not doing the right thing, and they were dumping things that should have been charged for,” and said he did not want to lose the sites because they are generally useful to residents and he wants to keep them operating. Commissioners heard the update during the public-comment period; no formal action was taken at the meeting.