Performance and safety records are usually the best, cheapest and most accurate way to evaluate whether or not employee drug use is an ongoing problem in any department or organization. Recent charges that drug use is a problem at the Beaver Hill Solid Waste facility are not supported by these common indicators, goals are met and no accidents have occurred and it should be noted that almost 50% of the employees already submit to random drug testing as part of federal rules associated with commercial driver licenses. Agents determined to assist Waste Connections with its mission to acquire the facility and convert it to a transfer station have tried several tactics in the past and this is likely just another one.

Previously, claims that the facility had only three years left in the ash trench proved untrue as did claims that it was poorly maintained and running in the red. Now it seems the only way to garner public support for selling the facility is to insult county employees and characterize them as drug users. This is really a new low even for the structure advisory committee.

I suggest that advisory committee volunteers submit to background checks and drug testing and cover the cost themselves before advising our elected officials.