Council discusses Pony Express event plans and a new green-waste site amid resident concerns

The Clarkston Town Council spent part of its March 18 meeting planning the Pony Express community event and discussing a proposed change to town green-waste disposal.

On event planning, council members said the mud run would not proceed this year, discussed moving a 3-on-3 basketball event so it does not conflict with horse races, and mentioned holding a pickleball tournament during a midday lull. Council members asked staff and volunteers (Kelby, Tyler and others) to confirm who would run specific activities and to compile equipment inventories.

Council then described a change to green-waste operations: instead of a recurring dumpster, the town would open gates at a gravel pit where residents could deposit green waste and the town would periodically burn or chip material with fire-department oversight. The mayor said the plan includes improving the access road and asked residents to put "green waste and nothing but green waste" at the site.

Resident Rod Orr asked how the town would manage the accumulated pile and whether private burning on a resident's property required a permit. The mayor said small contained fires or pits on private property likely do not require a permit but that he would check and confirm with the fire department; Jane Young urged residents to call the fire chief before burning as a courtesy so dispatch can distinguish a permitted local burn from an incident.

Residents raised operational concerns: contractors or out-of-town users previously abused dumpsters, some operators charge to take material while also selling the resulting chips, and unattended piles invited opportunistic overuse. Council members discussed potential mitigations including signage, cameras (and questions about who would monitor footage), a chipping operation to convert material into wood chips for sale or community use, and a compost area for grass clippings.

Council also reviewed parks-and-recreation business (playground slide replacement quotes) and a request to recruit volunteer firefighters, suggesting the town highlight volunteer needs in the water bill or other notices.

No formal vote was taken on the green-waste plan or event schedule; council members directed staff to continue planning and to follow up on operational details and permits.