Commission Allays Some Landfill Fears

The Jasper County Commissioners held a two-hour question and answer session at their regular meeting Monday concerning the creation of a solid waste authority, as they attempted to allay fears that Jasper County would become a site for a regional landfill.

The session came on top of a citizens meeting held last Thursday at the Piedmont Fire House where citizens expressed their concerns about the resolution the commissioners passed March 16. The resolution reads:

“WHEREAS, it has been determined by the Board of Commissioners of Jasper County, Georgia that the creation of the Solid Waste Authority of Jasper County will be in the best interests of the County; and

“WHEREAS, the Jasper County Board of Commissioners has been granted power to create such an Authority under OCGA Section 12-8-53 by duly adopted Resolution;

“NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved and it is hereby resolved that the Jasper County Board of Commissioners does hereby exercise its powers and creates the Solid Waste Management Authority of Jasper County, Georgia which shall have all the powers enumerated in OCGA Section 12-8-56, or any future amendments thereto; and

“BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE Board of Commissioners of Jasper County, GA, shall within thirty days of adoption of this Resolution appoint seven (7) members as the Board of Directors of the Authority, all of whom must be residents of Jasper county, GA and at least three of whom shall be members of the Board of Commissioners of Jasper County, GA for such terms as may be set out in such appointments; and

“BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such authority is directed to explore methods by which the present Construction and Demolition Landfill operated by Jasper County may be operated at less or no cost to the citizens and taxpayers of Jasper County including, but not limited to, the acceptance of regulated amounts of qualified Construction and Demolition Waste from a broader geographic area than is presently permitted; and

“BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Authority shall periodically report its findings to the Jasper County Board of Commissioners along with the recommendations of the Authority for such actions as the Board of Commissioners might take to further the work of the Authority so as to better provide solid waste management to the residents and businesses located in Jasper County.”

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The resolution was to be signed by all five commissioners.

The county manager opened the session by presenting a slide show on Construction and Demolition (C&D) landfill, and said what could go in there and what could not. She went on to show the financials which illustrate the landfill is losing money.

County Manager Karen Degges said that the county’s charge per ton is $30, but it cost the county more than that to have it removed. She then presented a variety of C&D landfill options which included closing the landfill, continue as is, create a solid waste authority or enter a public-private partnership.

The county attorney, Jim Alexander, explained that the reason for the authority is that it could enter into multi-year contracts whereas the county commission cannot. If the county wants to partner with someone to bring waste in, the partner would need a multi-year contract, not be subject to the whims of a changing county commission.

Citizens at the meeting last Thursday and at the commission meeting expressed concerns about receiving waste from other areas, and wanted to know how to prevent getting contaminated waste products that aren’t allowed at the C&D landfill.

Joey Morris asked the commissioners Monday to each sates his position on joining a regional solid waste authority. Commissioner Craig Salmon said it has not been discussed. He said there is a company that would like to bring in their C&D material, and the larger volume could make the landfill break even or make money, and still take local debris.

Commission Chairman Gene Trammell said we don’t have an agreement with a single company, but it would be waste from somewhere else. Bruce Henry said he is not interested in putting a regional solid waste authority together. Carl Pennamon said it is not a regional authority and he would not be in favor of such.

Mr. Morris then asked if they would be willing to guarantee bonds for a regional landfill, and Commissioner Doug Luke was the first to respond, and said “we’re trying to get out of the landfill business.

Mr. Morris, who said he was speaking for Joe Johnston who was sick, asked the commissioners to rescind the forming of the authority and set up a citizens’ committee.

The commissioners took no action on the authority at the meeting, other than to vote to have 60 days to name members to the authority. They indicated that the authority would indeed be a fact finding body, and would make a recommendation to the commission on the best way to proceed with the landfill.

There was much talk at both meetings about who would serve on the authority as the state code setting up solid waste authorities says three elected officials, but the resolution adopted by the county, as see above, says three county commissioners.

Basically the commissioners told the public that the purpose of the authority is to study the issue and make a recommendation. The power of the authority is determined by the commission. The public was more interested in having an ad hoc committee study the issue before a resolution takes effect.

Concerns about a regional authority were resolved a bit when the county attorney said that the county owns the permit, therefore no one else can come in and say what can or cannot go in the landfill.

Commissioners assured the public that there is no chance of solid waste being taken in; it would only be C&D waste.

Both at the citizens’ meeting last Thursday and at the commission meeting, the public let the commissioners know it was difficult to trust them when there had been no talk of a solid waste authority in open meeting in many months, and then it was suddenly created after a closed session at the last meeting. Concerned citizens who attend the meetings, and others who got copies of the minutes, said there was no mention even though a letter that was presented Monday night was dated January 12.

When people expressed concern about who would be dumping at the landfill if things change as suggested, and the county manager suggested that the citizens wouldn’t want just anybody, apparently referring to the possible partner who has approached the county.

In other action at Monday’s meeting, the commissioners:

•Agreed to advertise for persons to serve on the Tax Assessors Board. Chief Appraiser Lynn Bentley brought a proposal to the commission to reduce the board to three members, as it is hard to find five people to serve. The board currently has three qualified members. She said she advertised for others, and no one responded.

Commissioner Pennamon said that he knew of one person interested, and Mrs. Bentley said that still just gives them four members. After some discussion, they agreed that Mrs. Bentley should advertise one more time, and if no one volunteers, then they will re-address the issue.

They also voted to re-appoint Larry Smith to the board, and approved the annual mapping contract for the tax assessors.

•Approved the BB&T financing of new cars for the sheriff.

•Agreed to seek proposals on a new fire pumper.

•Commissioners received an update from Mark Whitley, engineer, on the status of the 2014 and 2015 LMIG. Mr. Whitley said work should begin on Post Road by early June.