Fairbanks North Star Borough ramps up code enforcement at transfer sites

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Users of the transfer sites in the Fairbanks North Star Borough are coming under increased scrutiny, as the borough begins increased code enforcement at the facilities.

A number of code violations are being addressed, ones that seem to be violated frequently. These include uncovered loads coming into the sites, loitering, hoarding, graffiti and littering.

According to Borough Mayor Bryce Ward, this effort comes as part of a larger mission to ensure the transfer sites are used properly.

“Part of that process was an educational component, so working with residents of the borough, working with residents of the City of Fairbanks to know who is and is not allowed to use transfer sites, how those transfer sites are paid for, and the overall, just use of those facilities,” he said. “What we’ve seen over the years is that folks have gotten pretty lax in their approach to using the transfer sites,” said Ward.

There are 13 transfer sites in the borough, five of which are considered major: Chena Pump, Farmers Loop East and West, Badger Road and North Pole.

Currently, a single code enforcement officer will be present at the sites to give reminders about policy and, if appropriate, issue citations. The officer will travel between these sites each day.

Citations can vary between one hundred and three hundred dollars, depending on how many offenses the recipient has already committed.

Another commonly seen violation of the code involves City of Fairbanks residents using the transfer sites, which are funded through the property taxes of borough residents. Ward said, “It’s about 1.6 mills that you pay on your property taxes. City of Fairbanks residents do not pay that tax. They pay the City of Fairbanks a collection fee, and so they just don’t pay into that collection district, and so they’re not allowed to use those facilities. They can bring waste directly to the landfill, but the transfer sites themselves are not allowed for use by city residents.”

The code enforcement began about a week ago.

More information can be found here.

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