Eatonville council prepares for cleanup of old landfill

The Eatonville Town Council passed a pair of resolutions at its Aug. 9 meeting making way for the cleanup of a long-abandoned landfill leased from Weyerhaeuser Co. that was used by the town for three decades.

Resolution 2021-DD authorizes the mayor to execute an agreed order with the Department of Ecology to obtain a remedial investigation, feasibility study and a draft action cleanup plan in cooperation with Weyerhaeuser. Resolution 2021-EE authorizes the mayor to execute a cooperation, funding and joint defense agreement with Weyerhaeuser. Town Administrator Abby Gribi noted that Weyerhaeuser has already signed into this agreement.

“It’s nice to see this particular item finally coming to a close, and that cleanup being able to hopefully be taken care of,” Mayor Mike Schaub said.

Starting in 1950, Eatonville leased the land from Weyerhaeuser and used it as a landfill. The site was closed in 1980. State regulations for shutting down a landfill were followed, but concerns always remained about the site’s condition and environmental impact.

Another related resolution dealing with funding the landfill cleanup is set for the Eatonville Town Council's regularly-scheduled Aug. 23 meeting.

In other business, the council updated its previously approved emergency policy and procedures regarding the collection and enforcement of utility bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergency resolution is set to expire at the end of September. With staff having found inconsistencies in the approved policy, Resolution 2021-FF amended language to correct these inconsistencies and allow for easier application of the policy.

For 90 days following the lifting of the emergency declaration, the town will work with customers to establish payment plans that will bring their accounts current within nine months — not the previously established six months — from the date the emergency declaration is lifted. Regular penalty and shutoff timelines will be re-established on the first day of the month following 90 days after the lifting of the emergency declaration. That’s up from 30 days.

The council also passed a resolution authorizing the use of federal American Rescue Plan funds to implement a utility assistance policy. Eatonville is set to receive a total of $844,702 in said funds to help support immediate economic stabilization for household and businesses impacted by the pandemic.

Finally, the council approved the agendas for the Aug. 16 and Sept. 7 virtual Zoom Planning Commission meetings, respectively: Eatonville Municipal Code Chapter 19, Commercial Review, and a public hearing on the rezone at the Lynch Creek Landings subdivision located at 331 and 333 Washington Ave. N.