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Old Town council appoints Tim Fster and Linda McLoud to Juniper Ridge host committee after resident plea
Summary
After extended testimony about truck traffic, odors and the landfill's economic role, the Old Town City Council appointed Councilor Tim Fster as chair and Councilor Linda McLoud as a council member to the Juniper Ridge Landfill host committee.
The Old Town City Council on Oct. 7 appointed Councilor Tim Fster as chair and Councilor Linda McLoud as a council member to the Juniper Ridge Landfill host committee following extended remarks by a host-committee member who urged closer council oversight.
The appointment followed a lengthy presentation from Ralph, a member of the landfill host committee, who warned that Juniper Ridge has grown sharply in recent years and is now receiving heavy truck traffic. "There's over 175 trucks a day coming to Juniper Ridge," Ralph said, and he urged the council to place elected members on the host committee so the public would be better informed and represented.
Why it matters: Ralph framed the issue as both a fiscal and environmental priority for Old Town, saying the landfill is a major source of municipal revenue while also producing odors and leachate issues for nearby residents. He told the council the landfill historically accepted ash from a local waste-to-energy plant and that recent closures and changes in regional waste handling have increased tonnage to Juniper Ridge.
Ralph described operational pressures at the site — more trucks arriving, exposed raw waste at peak times and the need for more oversight — and suggested that elected council members, including a named chair, would help ensure the council and public are kept informed. He also stated an approximate recent figure for host-committee revenue, saying the income had increased "from 200 some odd thousand a year up to today the last one was 857,921." He said a loss of that stream could create a substantial budget gap for the city.
Council action: After the presentation and brief discussion about the expected time commitment for attendance at intergovernmental meetings, the council moved to appoint Tim Fster as chair and Linda McLoud as the council representative on the Juniper Ridge host committee. The motion carried by voice vote.
What happens next: Councilors appointed to the host committee are expected to meet with the existing host-committee members and the city manager to receive briefings and, as Ralph requested, to ensure the council is kept informed about state-level discussions, operator filings, and any appeals or public hearings related to Juniper Ridge.
The council made the appointment as part of its regular meeting and proceeded to other agenda items.
