Who will pay for haul roads? No funds for repairs in waste district budget
By BARB LIMBACHER
The Times-Reporter
BOLIVAR - What to do about the “deplorable condition” of roads damaged by garbage trucks hauling to Countywide Recycling and Disposal Facility was discussed Friday by the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste Management District board of directors.
Stark County Engineer Mike Rehfus asked the board to pay for road repairs around the landfill. Earlier Friday at the district budget committee meeting, Rehfus asked for $147,756 to repair haul roads which include Gracemont Ave., Dueber Ave. and Haut St. He said the haul routes to Countywide need repairs.
The budget committee denied funding until next year, but the matter was taken to the board.
Rehfus said Gracemont, Fohl Rd., Dueber and Haut were repaired in 2002, while Sherman Church Rd. was repaired in 1998.
“I understand there are no funds set aside in the new plan to make the repairs,” he said. “What happened to the agreement to keep the haul roads in good repair?”
Tuscarawas County Commissioner Jim Seldenright, chairman of the budget committee, said road repairs are an allowable expense taken from the interest from tipping fees the district receives.
“The road repairs were not included in the budget permitted by the Ohio Environmental Protection agency,” Seldenright said.
Stark County Commissioner Gayle Jackson said funds were set aside in past years.
“This is how we kept the roads repaired and since there is no on/off ramp, the roads are in deplorable condition and badly in need of repairs,” Jackson said.
Jackson said the roads should be regularly maintained, but the garbage trucks continue to tear up the roads.
District Executive Director David Held told the board that funds to repair roads were not included in the new plan.
Wayne County Commissioner Scott Wiggam suggested there should be a plan of action to maintain the roads and the district needs to budget for them with an annual amount.
Wayne County Commissioner Ann Obrecht asked for another 30 days for officials to look at the agreement the district has with the three counties to make repairs. She also asked Held to contact the OEPA about repairs being omitted from the solid waste plan and whether the district can use the interest from tipping fees to repair haul roads. The board of directors unanimously agreed to look at all the information and make a decision after the budget committee makes a recommendation at the June 1 meeting at 9:30 a.m. The budget committee meets that day at 8:30.
In another matter, Kurt Princic, environmental manager of the Northeast District OEPA office at Twinsburg, said his office continues to take odor surveys at Countywide. He said staff took two per week during April.
“Some days there is no odor, and some days the odor is a level three (offensive) odor,” Princic said.
He also said that all the time lines have been met by Countywide as the OEPA director has ordered.
Princic said all questions about the community plan for funds to be given to those affected by the landfill should contact Andrea.Zakarias@EPA.state,oh.us or telephone her at (614) 644-2160.
In other business, board members:
– HEARD Held met with OEPA Director Chris Korleski at Columbus. Korleski said his No. 1 objective is making sure the odors are eliminated at Countywide.
– LEARNED there will be two litter collection crews working in both Stark and Tuscarawas counties to clean up the area highways. There are six inmates from each county jail working along the roads to clean up trash and debris.
– HEARD no district funds are being used by Tuscarawas County commissioners in their appeal filed against the OEPA regarding Countywide.
– HEARD applications are being accepted for an education specialist for Wayne County and for a full-time recycling truck driver. Applications are available at the district office at 9918 Wilkshire Blvd. NE, Bolivar (Wilkshire Hills).
– APPROVED a request from the Stark County Health Department for $46,800 for an industrial waste sampling program.
– AGREED to have GT Environmental of Columbus do a comprehensive composting study for the district at a cost not to exceed $40,000.
– AGREED to buy a district recycling truck to be used in the city of Canton at a cost of $190,000 using interest funds.
The Times-Reporter
BOLIVAR - What to do about the “deplorable condition” of roads damaged by garbage trucks hauling to Countywide Recycling and Disposal Facility was discussed Friday by the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste Management District board of directors.
Stark County Engineer Mike Rehfus asked the board to pay for road repairs around the landfill. Earlier Friday at the district budget committee meeting, Rehfus asked for $147,756 to repair haul roads which include Gracemont Ave., Dueber Ave. and Haut St. He said the haul routes to Countywide need repairs.
The budget committee denied funding until next year, but the matter was taken to the board.
Rehfus said Gracemont, Fohl Rd., Dueber and Haut were repaired in 2002, while Sherman Church Rd. was repaired in 1998.
“I understand there are no funds set aside in the new plan to make the repairs,” he said. “What happened to the agreement to keep the haul roads in good repair?”
Tuscarawas County Commissioner Jim Seldenright, chairman of the budget committee, said road repairs are an allowable expense taken from the interest from tipping fees the district receives.
“The road repairs were not included in the budget permitted by the Ohio Environmental Protection agency,” Seldenright said.
Stark County Commissioner Gayle Jackson said funds were set aside in past years.
“This is how we kept the roads repaired and since there is no on/off ramp, the roads are in deplorable condition and badly in need of repairs,” Jackson said.
Jackson said the roads should be regularly maintained, but the garbage trucks continue to tear up the roads.
District Executive Director David Held told the board that funds to repair roads were not included in the new plan.
Wayne County Commissioner Scott Wiggam suggested there should be a plan of action to maintain the roads and the district needs to budget for them with an annual amount.
Wayne County Commissioner Ann Obrecht asked for another 30 days for officials to look at the agreement the district has with the three counties to make repairs. She also asked Held to contact the OEPA about repairs being omitted from the solid waste plan and whether the district can use the interest from tipping fees to repair haul roads. The board of directors unanimously agreed to look at all the information and make a decision after the budget committee makes a recommendation at the June 1 meeting at 9:30 a.m. The budget committee meets that day at 8:30.
In another matter, Kurt Princic, environmental manager of the Northeast District OEPA office at Twinsburg, said his office continues to take odor surveys at Countywide. He said staff took two per week during April.
“Some days there is no odor, and some days the odor is a level three (offensive) odor,” Princic said.
He also said that all the time lines have been met by Countywide as the OEPA director has ordered.
Princic said all questions about the community plan for funds to be given to those affected by the landfill should contact Andrea.Zakarias@EPA.state,oh.us or telephone her at (614) 644-2160.
In other business, board members:
– HEARD Held met with OEPA Director Chris Korleski at Columbus. Korleski said his No. 1 objective is making sure the odors are eliminated at Countywide.
– LEARNED there will be two litter collection crews working in both Stark and Tuscarawas counties to clean up the area highways. There are six inmates from each county jail working along the roads to clean up trash and debris.
– HEARD no district funds are being used by Tuscarawas County commissioners in their appeal filed against the OEPA regarding Countywide.
– HEARD applications are being accepted for an education specialist for Wayne County and for a full-time recycling truck driver. Applications are available at the district office at 9918 Wilkshire Blvd. NE, Bolivar (Wilkshire Hills).
– APPROVED a request from the Stark County Health Department for $46,800 for an industrial waste sampling program.
– AGREED to have GT Environmental of Columbus do a comprehensive composting study for the district at a cost not to exceed $40,000.
– AGREED to buy a district recycling truck to be used in the city of Canton at a cost of $190,000 using interest funds.
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