Commissioners face decision after Mars files request for waiver from waste collection

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EATON —Newly-elected Board of Preble County Commissioners President Rodney Creech conducted his first meeting as president of the board on Wednesday, Jan. 13.

Creech was elected president during the commissioners’ meeting on Monday, Jan. 11.

During the meeting, Preble County Landfill Sanitary Engineer Randy Gilbert informed the board the Mars Company in Lewisburg has requested to take trash to Indianapolis.

Currently companies in Preble County are unable to take trash out of the county due to flow control rights given to the landfill. Because of flow control rights, all trash in the county is to be disposed of at the Preble County Landfill.

Gilbert explained flow control acts as “revenue security” for the landfill to protect against “public debts.” He also said this would be the first time since he started in November of 2011 a request for a waiver has been granted if the waiver is approved.

The company made a request for waiver from waste collection through the landfill to allow the company to pay to have all trash from the plant taken to Indianapolis for incineration to be turned into electric energy.

Gilbert said the landfill typically receives $4,400 annually from the company for trash collection for tipping fees for waste. The landfill also receives $1,359 for solid waste disposal from the company annually, according Gilbert.

The county will have 90 days to make the decision and will bring in Eastman and Smith, the landfill’s attorneys, to discuss the matter further.

Gilbert said the company “is going to spend significantly more for disposal of waste.”

The decision will be difficult, according to Creech, who said the move could set a precedent — but he also stated the county wants to work with companies who choose to do business in the county. He said it was important not to get labeled as “difficult to work with.”

Gilbert also informed commissioners the county averaged 15,000 gallons of leachate per day this year. Currently the contract with Lakengren is set for 10,000 a day.

Commissioner Chris Day noted the county received a high amount of rainfall this year, a statement supported by Gilbert, who said the county averaged 30,000 gallons of leachate per day in April.

The landfill collected 34,000 tons of waste in 2015 according to Gilbert.

In other business:

Commissioners received the monthly jail report from the Preble County Sheriff’s Office. The jail saw 74 male admissions, 24 female, and released 96. The daily average was 53.

Commissioners approved a contract with Terminix for $564.

Commissioners approved an agreement with the Montgomery County Microfilm Board for $4,000 for a storage agreement.

The commissioners approved an agreement with West Central Juvenile Detention Center for $32,490 for detention of juvenile offenders.

The Preble County Commissioners meet every Monday and Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the Preble County Courthouse.

By Austin Schmidt

[email protected]

Reach Austin Schmidt at 937-683-4062 or on Twitter @ aschmidt_RH.

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