Published: May 13, 2008 05:37 pm         

Landfill closure expected to cost $3 million

The Cumberland County Environmental Committee talked trash while hearing from environmental engineer Ronnie Reese during last Wednesday’s meeting.

Reese reported the county landfills will be at full capacity around November to December of 2009, and according to state regulations, the county will then have 180 days to cap and seal them for closure. The area will be covered, sealed and planted with vegetation.

"It's quickly filling up and you need to get this wrapped up ... there is going to be no more space left," Reese said.

According to Reese's estimates it will cost roughly $2 million for the 10-acre class I site and an additional $1 million for the 11-acre class III site, for a total cost of around $3 million.

In an effort to save funds on the county at budget times, Reese suggested the county close off the class I landfill in two phases, allowing the money to be split between the 2008-'09 and 2009-'10 budgets.

"You can propose to the state to split it up that way in closing it and, if they accept it, you won't have to budget the entire amount for one year or on one year's budget cycle," Reese said.

"This is something we've talked about for a while now with this landfill filling up the way it is. It sounds like a good idea if we can split it up like that and not have to budget for all of it at one time," 3rd District Commissioner and environmental committee chairman Lynn Tollett said. "It would make a lot of sense to do it that way."

Reese also suggested the county’s permission to approach TDEC (Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation) with the idea of re-designing the top cap for the class III landfill due to a recent discovery of better soil available in the area. Reese said that re-design with less volume, but more dense of a clay-type soil, could save the county around $350,000.

"I can't guarantee that, or that they'll accept that; all I can do is ask," Reese said. "I have done one and they granted it and I have done another one and they said no."

Reese said it would take roughly three to six months to hear back from the state with an answer because it has to be approved in Nashville, not at the district office in Cookeville.

Commissioners learned it would cost roughly $30,000, or 10 percent, for the permit to apply for the modification in the cap of the landfill.

"It could still save you a significant amount, but the only way you will know is by asking for it," Reese said.

Eighth District Commissioner Jeff Brown made a motion to allow Reese to apply for the modification with TDEC and the concept of phasing in the closure over a two-year period. It was passed unanimously.

Cumberland County Mayor Brock Hill then told the environmental committee that a previous investigation had turned up good soil on the Harrison property adjacent to the county landfill that could be used to fill in the area after its close in December of 2009. At the time, the property was not available.

The current owner, according to Hill, is interested in selling the soil at a price of $2.25 per cubic yard with a minimum purchase of 100,000 cubic yards. According to Reese, the soil would be enough for the landfill closure, and that reclamation of the land would be included in the package. A motion was made by 1st District Commissioner Jim Inman for the county mayor and county attorney Jim Thompson to enter into contract negotiations with the property owner. It was approved by the committee.