So often, the term “win-win situation” gets tossed around. It gets over used, almost to the point of being cliche.
However, an agreement between Barton County and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Waste Management is truly a win-win. What was a negative and could have resulted in some pointless penalty was turned into something positive.
In May, the landfill was cited by the BWM for a violation at the household waste cite and some bookkeeping issues. The state levied a $8,000 fine against the county.
But, instead forking over eight grand, the county was able to negotiate a consent agreement with state officials. In lieu of the fine, the county would remediate nine illegal dump sites at a cost of $10,571.
As a gesture of good faith, the cost of the clean-up effort exceeds the cost of the fine. But, where as the find would only benefit the state, this work also benefits the county.
 As stated earlier, a win-win.
In fact, the KDHE would rather make such deals than collect fines because the agency, too, wants to see a cleaner state.
This effort involved Solid Waste Manger Mark Witt, Environmental Manager Judy Goreham, County Administrator Richard Boeckman and others. All of whom deserve a pat on the back.
Sure, we don’t what to have our facilities fail to meet state muster, but these violations were relatively minor ones. Besides, they were all corrected before the BWM came back for a follow-up inspection.
No harm, no foul.
Dale Hogg