So far, the proposal to create a deeryard on Moretown-owned land behind the town elementary school is a win-win situation for all involved.
The proposal, brought forth by the Moretown Landfill, would designate 81 acres of land behind the school as a deeryard, allowing the landfill to mitigate impacts it is creating by building another lined landfill cell.
The landfill, based in Moretown, pays the town annual tipping fees which range from $200,000 to $300,000 annually and help the town fund its municipal operating budget of approximately $750,000.
Creating another cell will prolong the life of the landfill, prolong the number of years Moretown receives the subsidy and prolong the number of years that Moretown residents receive reduced rates for taking their trash to the landfill.
But that's only one aspect of this proposal. Creating the deeryard also means that that land is protected from development and is aimed at ensuring that a large tract of land accessible from the school is open for recreation and that the landfill pays the town $101,250 for the development rights to the 81 acres.
Another part of this proposal would give the town of Moretown a two-acre parcel of land for a new town garage for an annual lease of $1 per year. Moretown has been in search of a new town garage location for several years and has twice come close to finding a site and making plans to purchase it and build a new town garage.
This proposed location off of Route 2, while not as convenient as some of the earlier proposed sites, does meet most of the criteria and could be made to work. Moretown Landfill has also offered to pay for an assessment to review the feasibility of converting an existing barn on the site into the town garage.
If everything goes according to plan, this proposal could work out in the best interests of town taxpayers, recreationalists, road crew members, waste generators and the landfill itself.
It's a well thought out project and the kind of
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