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Commissioners discuss curbing blowers and improving ventilation at county transfer station over worker health concerns
Summary
County leaders spent significant time March 31 considering rules and engineering fixes to reduce dust exposure at the transfer station, including proposals to limit commercial or public use of blowers inside the facility, add ventilation/misting systems, and require protective measures for employees.
Commissioners devoted an extended portion of their March 31 meeting to air‑quality and workplace safety at the county transfer station, prompted by staff concerns about dust stirred by commercial and consumer blowers and general tipping activity.
The chair (S4) argued that employees and the public should be better protected from particulate exposure and urged the commission to pursue options now rather than leave the problem unattended. "We need to look at changing our policy in order to do what other transfer stations do," the chair said, listing options such as limiting public use of backpack blowers while the public is present, improving ventilation, and installing higher‑volume air handling systems or misting technologies.
Commissioners and staff discussed the practical limits of sweepers versus blowers, retrofitting fans and ducts that evacuate dust into containment, and the uncertain effectiveness of misting systems in some conditions. Staff (S6) referenced a packet item from an employee (Brad Clements) who reviewed relevant regulations and suggested the county would be justified in deleting the existing desk system requirement on heavy equipment. Participants agreed to seek air‑handling engineering expertise and to develop practical measures (including timing cleanups when the public is not present and providing masks for staff) before proposing formal policy changes.
No formal policy was adopted at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to research technical solutions, consult engineers, and return with recommendations for possible rule changes and implementation steps.
