Leavenworth brush site scales back schedule to 2 days a month

LEAVENWORTH — The Chelan County Public Works Department announced Tuesday that the county-owned brush drop-off site located at the intersection of Icicle and East Leavenworth roads will now operate on a bi-weekly schedule due to financial constraints.

The site will be open on the second and fourth Fridays of each month through October, with operating hours remaining unchanged from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost for dropping off brush is set at $25 per cubic yard, with a minimum payment of $25.

Eric Pierson, director of Chelan County Public Works, cited the facility's inability to break even as the primary reason for the reduced operating schedule. "Our numbers show we are averaging about two customers an hour, with one customer an hour last week," Pierson said. "That means our revenues are not covering our costs, including staff time and the hauling of the brush away for composting."

Despite raising fees earlier this year, the department is reluctant to continue increasing costs for users. Pierson suggested that more people may be utilizing the nearby Winton Manufacturing facility, which accepts yard waste for composting six days a week at a rate of $15 for loads under 400 pounds.

The upcoming dates for the Chelan County brush drop-off site are June 14 and 28, July 12 and 26, Aug. 9 and 23, Sept. 13 and 27, and Oct. 11 and 25.