Board to stay out of landfill dispute

PROVO — Four members of Utah County's Board of Adjustment voted unanimously Thursday to stay out of further decisionmaking concerning the Peck Rock & Products construction landfill near Saratoga Springs.

Saratoga Springs City Attorney Richard Allen had asked the board to stay or hold its decision made March 11 giving Peck Rock the right to open the landfill for commercial use by other construction companies.

Saratoga Springs is protesting the Board of Adjustment decision on the landfill — which won approval for expansion from the Utah Legislature in March. While the landfill is located outside the city, the road to the pit passes through the city near the site of a proposed elementary school.

Subdivision residents are worried about the additional truck traffic and dangers the trucks pose to their children.

Allen said the state statute provides the board the ability to stay their decision until the court can deal with the city's appeal petition.

However, board members and the attorney for Peck Rock Construction said they do not believe the board has any further jurisdiction.

"I don't see any use in our wasting our time on the matter when it'll go to court no matter what," said board member Richard Dalebout.

Allen said he believes the board did not meet the burden of proof in finding the construction company qualified for a special exemption for use of the landfill.

"There are a number of issues we disagree with," Allen said, following the meeting.

Allen said Peck Rock can legally begin accepting the commercial waste until they are told differently, even though Saratoga Springs has filed a petition with the Fourth District Court. Allen said it could be months before the matter gets a hearing before the court.

Lehi Mayor Ken Greenwood said he believes Saratoga Springs needs to take its share of the load and allow the landfill to operate. He said that would reduce truck traffic on Lehi's Main Street.

"If we're all belonging to the same society that's interested in the common good, then they need to step up and take their share. That area out there would benefit every school child because it would generate trust fund money," Greenwood said.

Greenwood said Lehi's Main Street is at its failure point with 30,000 car trips a day traveling on the narrow two-lane road.

"This landfill would take traffic off a road that's been in failure since 1999 and put it onto a road that's two times the size of our road," Greenwood said. "They say they don't want it because the trucks will pass a future school. Well, now the trucks travel through Lehi past three schools."

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