Residents of Grays Harbor County have the opportunity to dispose of flood-related waste through Feb. 2 at no cost to the individual.
Vouchers became available on Friday for residents of Aberdeen, Hoquiam and throughout the county for dumping at the LeMay Enterprises Transfer Station on Highway 12 east of Aberdeen.
“This is just one more way residents can get a little bit of flood relief,” said Mark Cox of Grays Harbor Utilities & Development. “I believe this is the first chance people outside of Aberdeen and Hoquiam are going to have an opportunity dump debris.”
The vouchers are good for $50 each and one will cover about 1,000 pounds of debris, according to Ed McDowell of Grays Harbor Emergency Management. The money comes from the state Department of Ecology and the county, with each entity giving $30,000 as part of an inter-agency agreement passed on Friday during a special Grays Harbor County Commission meeting. The combined $60,000 will be divided between Aberdeen, Hoquiam and the rest of the county with each receiving $20,000 apiece.
Aberdeen, Hoquiam and the county each will receive 400 vouchers for their residents. Aberdeen and Hoquiam vouchers can be picked up at their respective city halls, while residents from anywhere in Grays Harbor County can pick up a voucher at the offices of Grays Harbor Emergency Management in Montesano (310 Spruce Avenue West).
Vouchers will be used like gift cards, Hoquiam City Administrator Brian Shay explained on Friday morning, with a balance being carried from each use so residents can take advantage of the full $50.
The voucher program expires on Feb. 2, at which time city and county officials will determine if there is still enough money left over to start another session. The money from the State Department of Ecology needs to be spent by March 31 as part of the agreement.
It will be at each jurisdiction’s discretion whether to give out more than one voucher. They will be handed out on a case-by-case basis depending on how much debris each resident has.
In addition to vouchers at City Hall, Hoquiam City Planner Joshua Beach will go door-to-door to the most impacted homes to hand deliver vouchers. At City Hall, staff will verify residents have completed a damage assessment form, and those who have not completed the form will be required to do so to receive a voucher. Residents picking up a voucher at Grays Harbor Emergency Management will have to complete a damage report form, as well.
Whatever disposal cost is not covered by the voucher must be covered, out-of-pocket, by the resident.
For its part, LeMay is extending the hours of the transfer station and will add an extra day to weekend availability, open this weekend only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Dumpsters throughout each city have been recalled and will no longer be available to cleanup efforts unless specifically requested by coordinated efforts, like those organized by the Coast Community Action Program (CCAP) and private contractors.
Aberdeen and LeMay
LeMay is the contracted waste management provider for the City of Aberdeen. Aberdeen residents will have extra opportunity to dispose of flood-related waste at no cost on Saturday and Sunday.
Aberdeen residents can show their drivers licences at LeMay to dump for free both days. The cost will be billed to the city and the city is funding the free disposal through its spring cleanup fund. Aberdeen residents who do not have their current address on identification can visit the city for a city voucher to be used at the dump. Unlike county vouchers, there is no set limit to Aberdeen residents this weekend.
“The goal of our dollars was we felt there was still a great rush of volunteers, and we wanted to help facilitate that,” Finance Director Kathryn Skolrood said on Friday. The county vouchers, announced after the city’s plan, will not impact the free disposal for Aberdeen residents or the city’s commitment to those days.
Using the spring cleanup fund will take the burden off donated dollars, Skolrood added.
“We want to see donated money go to rent help and other assistance, not garbage removal,” she said.
In addition to the extra hours, LeMay has donated $15,000 worth of services to the city. That donation will be calculated after the weekend to determine how it is applied to the city.
“That was their generous offer as being a provider for our citizens,” Skolrood said.
While the spring cleanup fund will ease pressure on donated dollars, it could cripple the annual spring cleanup event in the city. If the city qualifies for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance, the spring cleanup could be revived and take place as planned.
“We just don’t know when we’ll find out about our FEMA qualification,” Skolrood said.
Following free disposal this weekend, Aberdeen residents will be able to pick up county vouchers at City Hall.
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