Solid Waste Authority Asks to Meet with County Commission

At the October 25^th Pocahontas County Solid Waste authority’s regular meeting, Member David McLaughlin informed his fellow members that he had spoken to County Commission President Walt Helmick who told him the commissioners would be willing to meet with the Authority at an open special commission meeting to discuss possible ways the commission could assist the authority financially perhaps to purchase the landfill which they now lease.  Authority Chairman Ed Riley indicated he would be receptive to this and a suggested date of Wednesday, November 1^st was mentioned, pending approval by the commission.

Since this meeting, the County Commission has indeed scheduled a special meeting to discuss the future of solid Waste in the county for Wednesday, November 1^st at 2:30 pm.

During public comments, Allan Johnson said “I really would favor the board to purchase the current landfill even if filled up, for certain uses since that is a central location.” Johnson also told them it would be smart for them to be open with the public and limit discussions held in Executive Sessions because it is important for the public to understand what is going on.

This reporter also addressed the authority during the public comments portion of the meeting regarding their need to conduct open and transparent discussions about the future of solid waste disposal in the county. To read or listen to that comment, visit this story on our website – www.alleghenymountainradio.org.

Also at the meeting, Mary Clendenon commented on the authority’s monthly financial statement. Clendenen said that so far, this fiscal year, cardboard, paper and plastic recycling has shown a net loss of $731,00; tire recycling a loss of $892.00 and white goods (appliances) recycling a loss of $1249.00.

The Solid Waste Authority’s CPA, Mark joseph, recommended that the authority submit an application to the state to raise their tipping fee from the current $64.00 per ton to $95.00. He said that without the rate increase, they will continue to lose more and more money each year. The Authority voted to apply for a tipping rate of $95.00.

Joseph also said that his company offers a free service which will do the authority’s payroll in an emergency if for some reason the Authority’s administrative personnel are unable to do it, but they need to apply for that service. The members voted to apply for that service.

They also said they are being required to add one more downgradient groundwater monitoring well, and they still need WV Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP) approval of a location for that well.

Chris McComb, the Landfill Manager, said they need to jet wash out and clean some lines at the landfill, and clean out one of the manholes there. McComb also said the commercial trash disposal is about the same this month, but there was a slight decline in trash disposal by the public at the landfill. He complained that the public fills up the closest boxes to the entrance of the green box sites but won’t walk 10 feet further to the next box, but just keep piling it on top of the closest box until it falls all over the ground, and he has to spend a lot of time and work cleaning up the mess. He also complained that mattresses are being left at the gates.

We will report on the November 1^st Special Commission meeting where the future of Solid Waste disposal in the county will be discussed.

To hear this reporter’s public comments to the Solid Waste Authority regarding transparency and Executive Sessions, click audio below