Court Opinion

ID: 9557763
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 16:56:59.974485+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:34.811910
License: Public Domain

SHEPARD, Chief Justice,
dissenting.
The core of the majority opinion is that the “operation of the county’s sanitary landfill site” constitutes the “construction, repair or reconstruction of * * * (a) public work.” As noted, the construction of a public work includes “constructing substantially in its entirety any fixed works and structures * * The majority states “The permanent internment of refuse beneath earth and rocks amounts to the creation of a fixed structure.”
I could not disagree more. In truth and fact the situation is far less professional *241and intricate than would be indicated by the majority’s gloss. As in any concentration of population Ada County has for a number of years had a problem of trash, garbage and general refuse disposal. Such is a substantially different problem than that faced by governmental units in converting from the old fashioned outhouse method of solid waste disposal to disposal by means of individual septic tanks and in turn, a system of solid waste disposal consisting of miles of sewer pipes ultimately culminating in a sophisticated plant for the reduction and disposal of those wastes.
Ada County, as did other governmental entities, for many years maintained a “dump” at which garbage, trash and general refuse was deposited and in many cases burned. Exacting standards relating to pollution, both air and otherwise, had dictated the necessity of new methodology. Thus, Ada County, like many governmental units, sought out what amounted to a large hole in the ground. Seaman’s Gulch has been utilized for many years by Ada County as such a hole in the ground for the deposit of garbage, trash and refuse. It was determined that such methodology would better suit environmental necessities. Refuse is deposited, compacted by machine and then covered over with earth fill to eliminate the danger of fire and other atmospheric pollutants.
Such an operation has been conducted for several years by various operators. To hold that such an operation constitutes the construction of a public work or building, strains my credulity. As contemplated by the contract and specifications, the “operator” accepts refuse at the designated site, compacts it to certain density and covers it with earth in conformance with certain required levels or lifts. The operator is paid a fixed sum for such service and presumably such a procedure will go on indefinitely until all the holes in the ground in Ada County have been so filled or until some other methodology is devised. Rather obviously, there is no anticipated completion of a constructed “building” or “work” as contrasted with a construction contract contemplated by the statutes.
Since the majority opinion is premised on what in my judgment is an erroneous understanding of the nature of the work contemplated here, the remainder of the opinion relating to bonding and bidding requirements must also fall. I would affirm the judgment of the district court.
DONALDSON, J., concurs.