Joe Spears: seven audits since last meeting; urges reconsideration of berm requirement if visibility exemption granted

Joe Spears told the committee there have been seven audits since the last time members met and summarized the audits as "pretty consistent." He framed the core operational issue as balancing public visibility with cost and land use: "I honestly think if we get the exemption that we close to the road, we actually also ask for the no burp anyway," he said, arguing the required berm (described in the transcript as a 'firm') is a large expense that consumes landfill space.

Spears said the sites are "in great shape" overall and described local differences in site maintenance. Committee members asked whether buffering would mean trees or shrubbery; the discussion noted that a berm alone may not capture litter unless paired with fencing. The transcript records back-and-forth about whether a berm should be mowed and maintained and whether the expense and space trade-offs justify the berm requirement.