109 Board denies public input

The county’s 109 Board approved a resolution finding Rumpke’s proposed expansion inconsistent with the existing solid waste management plan at a meeting Monday night. 

The board, which shut down any public commenting at this week’s meeting, recommends the solid waste management plan be amended to include the expansion of the landfill. 

The 109 Board acts in an advisory capacity to the Fiscal Court and the recommendation will now go before the Fiscal Court. 

Rumpke has proposed to the county a 48.2 acre expansion that would extend the lifespan of the Orear Road landfill by about 12 years. 

The 109 Board allowed a public comment period that ended June 28 in which the public was asked whether the Rumpke proposal was consistent or inconsistent with the solid waste management plan. 

The resolution approved this week states the 109 Board has considered the request for consistency determination filed by Rumpke, written comments were received during the comment period and that there was no request for a public hearing.

Board member Tony Tipton was the only no vote. He told the board he did not have time to review the resolution fully prior to the vote.

About 40 people were in attendance and several wished to speak, but their requests were denied by the board.

Board members said they were not taking public comment at the meeting.

Several people asked questions throughout the brief meeting because there were no microphones for the members who met at in the Fiscal Courtroom.

Solid Waste Coordinator Donny Pennington told the Advocate previously the 109 Board received more than 60 comment letters from the public, but only 16 were consistent with the question asked.

While most of the letters were opposed the landfill, Pennington said the board did receive 10 in support of the landfill and several asking for a higher tipping fee.

Pennington added the board receives many letters after the deadline.

Local resident Akeem Scott claims he personally submitted about 300 letters from concerned citizens.

Rumpke officials say the landfill currently has a lifespan of about 7.5 years. 

The tipping fee Rumpke pays to the county for operation of the landfill comes to about $780,000 a year.

Rumpke offered to reduce the size of its proposed expansion to 48 acres, the amount of daily out-of-county waste to 895 tons, accept waste from 37 counties and pay a tipping fee of $2.83 a ton. The tipping fee would increase by 4 percent annually.

The landfill is currently permitted for 87.25 acres and 948 tons of out-county-waste. The tipping fee is $2.55 a ton. Rumpke previously asked for a 184-acre expansion, up to 1,100 tons of out-of-county waste, acceptance of waste from 59 counties and a tipping fee of $2.75 a ton. That expansion would have extended the landfill life by about 36 years.

Several Rumpke officials were in attendance.

Jeff Garrison was also named chair of the board Monday.