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Rio Blanco adopts Ray Gulch landfill wind‑closure policy after safety and litter concerns
Summary
Commissioners approved a policy establishing operational thresholds and procedures for high‑wind closures at the Ray Gulch landfill. Debate centered on closure thresholds, reopening criteria, public vs. commercial exceptions and documentation; staff agreed to produce a closing/reopening checklist.
Rio Blanco County commissioners approved a new wind‑closure policy for the Ray Gulch landfill that sets operational procedures for closing the landfill to the public during high‑wind events and handling commercial loads on a case‑by‑case basis. The item drew detailed discussion about threshold speeds for closures, safety incidents, and how the county should document both closures and reopenings.
Commissioners and staff discussed why the county's thresholds (noted in the draft as 20–25 mph for different closure levels) are lower than some state thresholds. A staff member cited safety and litter concerns: "...the public has a tendency to have a lot more loose trash ... debris is my main concern," and recounted a recent incident where a resident was knocked down by flying plywood. Commissioners encouraged flexibility for commercial haulers when material is secured but pressed staff to create a reopening checklist; staff agreed to produce a checklist to document both closure and reopening decisions. The policy was adopted after roll call.
