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Board advances first reading of vehicle-decal plan to curb out-of-county trash at convenience stations
Summary
County staff presented a first reading of an ordinance to reintroduce vehicle decals for Washington County convenience centers to curb out-of-county trash; staff said there is no new fee beyond existing registration charges and the board authorized a public hearing.
The Washington County Board of Supervisors heard a first reading Sept. 24 on a proposed ordinance to require vehicle decals for solid-waste convenience stations, a measure staff said is intended to reduce out-of-county trash, protect convenience-station attendants and limit costs borne by county taxpayers.
Kathy Johnson (county staff) told the board the decal would be reissued every three years and distributed through the existing personal-property tax/registration process; she said there would be ‘‘no change to citizens as far as that’s concerned’’ and that the county would mail two decals at the beginning of the cycle for registered vehicles. Johnson said staff will create rules and a webpage to explain exceptions (for caretakers, short-term moves and those who need to haul for a relative) and that the county administrator’s office will administer the program.
Board members asked how the decal would be enforced and whether the change would create confrontations at convenience centers. Mr. McCall and others said the decal is intended as a tool to help attendants identify county taxpayers quickly and curb the “out-of-county” volume that staff and convenience-station operators say has increased since 2017. Ms. Johnson acknowledged exceptions and said staff would provide an extensive Q&A and signage campaign ahead of implementation; she estimated production and mailing costs could be modest (for 75,000 decals she cited ~$8,200 if reissued every three years).
The board voted to authorize the county attorney to schedule a public hearing on the proposed ordinance; that public hearing will allow more data presentation and public comment on the decal’s details and implementation timetable.
Ending: The ordinance remains at first reading; staff will prepare a public hearing, finalize the rules and a signage/education plan before bringing the ordinance back for possible adoption.
