Wayne (county staff) briefed commissioners on two county landfill sites and recent Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) directives to address unmanned dumping and permit compliance. Wayne said the county installed a dumpster in 2021 and worked to secure permits; he described ongoing cleanup costs and an increase in illegal dumping from neighboring counties and tribal areas.

"We’ve been spending about $20,000 a year out there to maintain the dumpster and to do special projects to clean the landfill up," Wayne said, and he added that recent hauling and clean-up runs into West Wendover had cost about $67,000 in the last cycle. Wayne proposed a 6-foot chain-link fence with additional wire along the top to limit access and allow staffing of the site on a limited schedule (for example, opening one day a week when staff can be present).

Commissioners raised concerns that fencing might shift dumping to other locations if users will not travel farther for disposal. Wayne noted that closing or gating an unmanned site still requires post-closure care and monitoring—typically a 30-year stewardship obligation—and that fencing and gate infrastructure would be included in a 2026 budget request.

Councilors and staff also discussed alternative solutions, including a possible transfer of landfill management to the tribe or other entities; no final decision was made. Staff said they will include fencing in next year’s budget request and return with more detailed cost estimates and options.