The Gallatin Convenience Station will shut down for more than four months beginning on Dec. 1 due to what Columbia County officials describe as a serious and ongoing staffing shortage, leaving residents to rely on neighboring facilities for their waste disposal.
In an email early on Monday, Nov. 24, Wendy S. Madsen, director of the county’s Solid Waste Division, said it has become “increasingly difficult to hire qualified staff available to work every Saturday,” forcing the department to recommend a temporary closure through April 10.
The station, located at 2180 Route 82, has been operating with only one attendant “for several months,” she wrote, a situation the county deemed “unsafe and unsustainable.”
The Columbia County Public Works Committee voted on Nov. 19 to endorse the shutdown, according to an email Madsen sent to town officials.
During the closure, residents are encouraged to use two nearby stations: the Livingston Station at 366 County Route 19 or the Copake Station at 768 County Route 7A (Center Hill Road).
Days and hours of operation are listed on the Columbia County Solid Waste website. Residents with questions or concerns can contact the Columbia County Solid Waste Department at 518-828-2737.