COEUR d'ALENE - Solid Waste will soon operate a new dump site at the intersection of Ramsey and Chilco roads, thanks to the Kootenai County commissioners' approval of a conditional use permit on Thursday.

Two commissioners voted in favor and one abstained, after deliberations in the county administration building.

"It's in the public interest," said Commissioner Todd Tondee of the rural site. "It's not going to affect property values."

Solid Waste plans to use the 9-acre site to consolidate the Twin Lakes and Garwood dump sites, on the condition that the agency purchases the property.

The new location will have 55 to 100 dumpsters, and is central to both existing sites.

Commissioner Dan Green lauded that the new site offers more access than the other two sites.

"It will save costs. We'll only need to man one site," Green said.

Roger Saterfiel, Solid Waste director, said the consolidation is much needed.

The county doesn't own the Garwood or Twin Lakes rural dump sites, he said, so making improvements there would be a waste of tax dollars.

The Idaho Transportation Department that owns the Garwood property has "pretty much said Garwood is going away," Saterfiel said of the agency's plans.

He is "surprised we haven't had accidents yet" at the Twin Lakes site, where there are no turn lanes into the site, he added.

"You can recognize it by the tire marks on the road," he said.

The new site will have turn lanes, and will be paved, staffed and fenced, Saterfiel said.

"It's safe and cost effective," he said.

The hearing examiner held a hearing on the permit request last month and recommended approval.

Commissioner Jai Nelson abstained from voting on Thursday.

Though she was in favor of the proposal, she said, she wasn't familiar enough with the area to vote.

"Seeing is everything," Nelson said. "I want to make an informed decision."