EPHRATA — For the time being, the garbage collection facility operated by Grant County in the Mattawa area will remain open. That is the recommendation of the county’s public works staff, announced during a public hearing Tuesday.

The public hearing was scheduled to gather comments on a proposal to raise fees at the Grant County landfill and garbage collection facilities around the county, called transfer stations or drop boxes. But Mattawa officials also asked about a proposal to close the Mattawa drop box.

Public works director Sam Castro said the county’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee had discussed closing the drop boxes in Mattawa and Coulee City, and decided to recommend closing the facility in Coulee City.

The drop box in Mattawa will be left open for now, at least while county officials conduct more analysis of the costs and rates, Castro said.

Commissioner Tom Taylor said in his opinion, closing the Coulee City drop box was the right decision, given the amount of use and the cost of operation. The case of the Mattawa facility deserves more research, Taylor said.

Joe Harris, representing the city of Mattawa, and Port of Mattawa director Lars Leland said city and port officials were concerned that closing the drop box would lead to an increase in illegal dumping. Leland said Royal City and Warden experienced increases in illegal dumping when drop boxes in those areas were closed.

Harris said the Mattawa area is growing, with three apartment complexes currently under construction. Closing the drop box would have a significant impact on the Mattawa area, he said. Mattawa city officials understand that rates should reflect the actual cost of operation, he said, and want to be involved in the process of establishing fees. Preferably any discussions should occur before commissioners vote on new rates, Harris said.

Pam Thorsen, Desert Aire, said the Desert Aire community depends heavily on a local drop box. Many of its residents have garbage they have to dispose of, but no way to get it to a disposal site, she said.

Leland said that if the county decides to close the county-owned facility, Port of Mattawa officials are working on a plan to lease port-owned property to a private company to provide a drop box.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.