Unsecured trash loads mean warning, fines

Flathead City-County Board of Health members and Sheriff Chuck Curry agreed Thursday that some people need more than public service announcements to stop littering and start securing their loads of trash.

After months of asking that deputies enforce the county litter ordinance, board member Dr. Wayne Miller heard from the newly elected sheriff a commitment to work toward better enforcement. Curry said deputies would first warn violators that they must secure their loads, then issue tickets with fines. The ordinance calls for fines up to $200.

He said that the department must still give priority to life and safety issues over littering.

“I can’t say that I’m going to station a deputy to check loads every day,” Curry said.

He said the department receives 180 calls daily with only five or six deputies on duty at any given time. Curry said he would make it known through the department that he wants the ordinance enforced when practical.

“If we see an uncovered load, we are willing to enforce the ordinance,” he said.

Curry said he expects most motorists will say they didn’t know that they are violating the ordinance if litter isn’t falling out of their vehicles. Board of Health members and members of the Solid Waste Board plan to rectify that with more public outreach saying unsecured loads violate the county ordinance.

Speaking under public comments, Mayre Flowers, director of the Waste Not Project, presented two options for an anti-litter campaign this spring. She described one as an intense grass-roots effort working with service and school groups or a simpler approach with billboards explaining the ordinance.

She asked Miller, who represents the health board on the Solid Waste Board, to bring back a consensus on the approach they support.

David Prunty, director of county public works, said the Solid Waste Board is committed to a campaign to reduce highway litter and could pay for billboards. Curry said the department would cooperate in the project.

“Education would be very helpful,” Curry said.

Health Board Chairman Glen Aasheim said the solid waste department’s public service radio advertisements were well done. Prunty said radio ads normally run in the fall and spring but the schedule had been expanded this year.

He said those efforts have made a big difference in the last few years. But he agreed with the board that more was needed to make more headway in reducing trash along highways.

“We advertise, advertise, advertise,” Prunty said. “Without enforcement it won’t work.”

Miller said that anyone who questioned the problem could just drive U.S. 93 north of Reserve Drive that day and view the trash on the east side of the road. At previous meetings, he has reported problems with trash strewn along Montana 35.

He said the bulk of the problem comes from household trash and construction materials that fly out of pickups on the way to the dump or green boxes. Miller said he was grateful for Curry coming to the meeting after nearly a year of no action from the previous sheriff.

Member Dr. David Myerowitz said the board was “basically stonewalled” and told the department wasn’t going to address the problem. He said he was encouraged by the change in attitude.

“Hopefully, you’ll never hear from me that we’re not in interested in this,” Curry said.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.