Commissioner responds to writer's accusations

I'd like to respond to some of the letters that have recently appeared in the local media regarding the race for county commissioner, particularly one by Mike Oehler, who, as many of you may recall, launched similar criticisms when I was running for sheriff and arresting people who were growing marijuana.

Mr. Oehler didn't feel that, as sheriff, it was any of my business going after those who were growing marijuana for their own use, despite the fact that it was, and remains, illegal in this state.

This go-around, his criticism regards the way county commissioners have handled operations at the Boundary County Landfill. Once again, his criticism overlooks some stark facts.

Several years ago, while serving on a different board of county commissioners, I helped in the negotiations that obtained for this county a small community exemption from Federal Subtitle D regulations, a complex process that allowed the local county landfill to remain open, provided several conditions were met.

One of those requirements is that the landfill can accept no more than 20 tons of material a day. Once that benchmark is passed, we will have no choice, under federal law, than to close the existing landfill.

Because of those Subtitle D regulations, it will be all but impossible to open another landfill in Boundary County because of the prohibitive costs involved in complying with the many environmental quality standards required.

We will have no choice at that time but to have our solid waste transferred to a 'super-dump' site, either by rail, truck or other transportation. It will be expensive and it will be inconvenient, placing considerable burden on all county taxpayers.

As county commissioner, I have worked diligently to see that we retain our existing landfill for as long as possible, and one of the most important ways we can do that is by expanding our recycling program, cutting down the tonnage going into the waste stream.

We have made great progress, and we are fortunate to have a dedicated crew at the landfill willing to explore all aspects of recycling to make the program a success, and keep our landfill operating.

It's simple to come up with easy answers when you don't factor in all the parameters, but having been elected to serve the best interests of the county, those parameters have to be taken into account so as to reach the more difficult, but right, decision.

I have enjoyed serving the citizens of this community on this and other tough issues, and I would appreciate the privilege of continuing this work with your vote Nov. 4.

Ron Smith

County Commissioner

District 1