The Flathead County commissioners have endorsed raising fees for disposal of tree stumps at the county landfill from $31.05 to $90 per ton.

During a May 11 meeting, Dave Prunty, the county's public works director, said the higher rate will be more commensurate with the cost of getting rid of tree stumps, which are often hauled in large quantities by developers clear-cutting forested areas for subdivisions.

"When the Solid Waste District receives loads of stumps, typically what we see is 10-wheel dump trucks, side dumps, large hauling vehicles coming in with 40 tons of stumps on them," Prunty told the commissioners. "With our equipment, we're not built to handle that type of material coming in. So what we have to do is take extra time to process them down."

Prunty said the stumps taken to the landfill along U.S. 93 often weigh several tons apiece and have "monster" clumps of roots on them. Unable to throw them all into the landfill intact, workers have used an excavator to split stumps into smaller pieces, which can then be processed through a grinder.

Last spring, they also tried getting rid of stumps by burning them. "And the stumps caused us some problems," Prunty said. "They just burned for a hell of a long time."

The Solid Waste Board held a public hearing on the proposed fee increase on April 27, but no one testified or submitted any written comments. The board recommended the increase to the commissioners, who during last week's meeting unanimously approved a resolution indicating they support the increase.

Commissioner Brad Abell said it makes sense to charge a rate that covers the county's costs when it receives stumps and provides disposal service.

The approval of the resolution started a 30-day public comment period, but Prunty said unless there is overwhelming public opposition, the increase will take effect on July 1.

Reporter Chad Sokol can be reached at 758-4439 or [email protected]