The Flathead County commissioners on Monday voted unanimously to proceed with buying properties adjacent to the landfill for future expansion of the county’s solid waste operation.

It was a procedural vote that sets in motion the process to begin the acquisitions but doesn’t define whether a group of 14 parcels covering 91 acres or a much larger 523-acre tract is the preferred option.

“Everything’s on the table yet,” Commissioner Pam Holmquist said after the vote. “I’m leaning toward the 14 parcels, but this doesn’t lock us into the 14.”

The county Solid Waste Board has been studying both the 14 parcels next to the landfill’s southwest corner — owned by 14 different families — and a second 523-acre site west of Prairie View Road owned by Hank and Lacy Galpin of Sky-Air Enterprises.

The Galpins’ property is appraised at around $3.3 million and was the preferred alternative in a 2009 strategic plan for the landfill.

The 14-parcel tract also is appraised at about $3.3 million.

Two weeks ago, Solid Waste Board members expressed frustration with the fact-finding process when they learned the county commissioners reportedly already had decided they preferred the 14-parcel option. 

The board has spent more than a year studying the expansion options and had not yet made a formal presentation or recommendation to the commissioners.

The board has said it wants to have enough land to bury garbage for 100 years. Current capacity at the landfill is about 50 years.

The commissioners have full authority in matters of disposition of property, county Public Works Director Dave Prunty acknowledged

“The commissioners are saying we’ll take it from here,” Prunty said. “I don’t see the Solid Waste Board doing a whole lot more” with studying landfill expansion options.

Prunty noted that a third option always had been not proceeding with either of the two land alternatives.

Hank and Lacy Galpin voiced their concerns about the process during the commissioners’ public comment segment on Monday. 

A letter submitted by Hank Galpin stated he believes their property is the best choice for the county because it’s five times the size of the 14-parcel option for about the same cost. It’s geologically suitable, near the current landfill and would meet the property needs of the landfill for a century, he added.

Galpin also asked Commissioner Gary Krueger to excuse himself from voting on the property acquisition because Krueger owns property across the river from the Galpins’ property.

“As a neighbor to an expanded landfill, he would be subject to the same concerns that the present neighbors have expressed over the years,” Galpin wrote.

Krueger told the Daily Inter Lake two weeks ago he doesn’t believe he has a conflict of interest in voting on the landfill expansion options, and said Monday he stands by that belief.

“That’s just hogwash,” Krueger said. “I should recuse myself because I own property in Flathead County?”

Krueger said he already can see “the dump” from his house, but that it doesn’t bother him.

“I’m going to make my decision on what’s very best for Flathead County,” Krueger said. “I’ll look mostly at dollars and cents.”

It would cost the county about $1.6 million more to expand to the Galpins’ property than add the 14 parcels closer to the landfill. Krueger said the county will conduct a thorough assessment of projecting what it will cost to operate a larger landfill.  An all-weather road would need to be built to the expansion site and a new gas-containment facility likely would be needed, he pointed out.

Krueger further said he believes an ample amount of information about the property options has been made public through Solid Waste Board meetings and meetings the board has held with landfill neighbors whose property may be acquired.

 Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.