Long Landfill Closing Saga Takes Another Strange New Twist

In a sudden about-face, Mayor Kant and other officials said recently the city's Construction and Demolition landfill on South Section Street may not be completely full after all, as was reported earlier this year--and could be reopened and used for "several more years." Last February city officials said it had to be closed--and an engineering firm (HMR) was hired to decommission it.

A. J. Cooper

Kant said  he thought the landfill had to close (no expansion) because of complaints from  Twin Beech neighborhood advocates A. J. Cooper and Willie Williams several years ago.

[The possibility of the life extension was revealed by the firm the city hired to help close the landfill (Moore Engineering), at a cost of $38,000]




A Press Register article shows warnings about the landfill arose in April 2006, when Public Works Director Fidler warned of only "about  a year" of capacity left at that time.

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Later that year (Oct 2006) the city decided not to annex a private dirt pit on S. Hwy 181 near CR44 -- owned by Baldwin Properties LLC -- that wanted to provide (landfill) services to the city-- after developers  of an upscale subdivision nearby (Stone Creek) objected.

(Publisher's Note: The dirt pit is currently being used as a private landfill anyway. click here)

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At the June 11, 2007 City Council meeting, Mayor Kant complained "nobody wants a landfill in their back yard"--and staff presented 2 options to the Council for the newly annexed land adjacent to the current landfill on S. Section St.

• Option A.  Use the annexed land as a C and D landfill-- costing $455,000 per year.
• Option B.  Haul the C and D waste to McBride landfill in Loxley--costing $297, 000 per year.

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Public Works Director Fidler further explained the options:

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After considering staff's recommendation (in June 2007), the Council unanimously voted to haul  construction and debris waste to the McBride landfill,  and put vegetative debris only in the recently annexed 10 acres (Twin Beech area). Area residents A. J. Cooper and Willie Williams still objected, citing Voting Rights Act annexation "pre-clearance" violations--and health concerns of nearby residents.

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In a newspaper interview last January, Fidler said many efforts had been made to expand the landfill, but were voted down due to citizens' opposition.

She also made comments about the closing to a local tv station.

In an ongoing effort to cut costs, the City Council is currently considering (taking bids) having private companies pick up all waste material in the city; and some city employees are objecting to the  possible work force reductions.

Council President Lonnie Mixon asked Mrs. Fidler to make a formal presentation concerning the re-opening issue at a future council meeting.