CROSSVILLE — Commissioners on the budget committee had to readjust sanitation fund budget figures by nearly $300,000 to allow for post-closure landfill costs.
"After we got everything done we realized we hadn't allowed for costs associated with the post-closure landfill costs. The finance office always has been allowed some leeway and authority in adjusting numbers on the budget by the committee. What we did in order to balance those anticipated costs was move 1.5 cents from debt service over to the sanitation fund," said Cumberland County Finance Director Nathan Brock.
Mike Harvel, 7th District commissioner, who also works in the county's solid waste department, said he amended the sanitation fund budget to allow more revenue for the fund by decreasing projected leachate costs from $300,000 to $200,000 and costs for recycling bins of $8,500.
"Since it (the landfill) is closed we won't have as much costs with the leachate as we had before. So that should save at least $100,000," Harvel said.
Brock said, "It's of course up to the committee, but this was the easiest way to adjust this. The tax-rate remains the same and we just moved the 1.5 cent to make the adjustment for the figures to match the projected numbers," Brock said.
With the adjustment, the projected fund balance for the sanitation fund would be $294,639.
"How do you feel about the fund balance? Could we make it a half-cent less? I'd like to see more go back to debt service. Once it's there it won't go back," 9th District Commissioner and Budget Committee Chairman Carmin Lynch said.
"I don't mind. It's up to Nathan (Brock). He pays the bills. I feel fine about it. This budget's cut to the bone. We may have to come back later in the year and adjust it again. I don't know," Harvel said.
"How does the committee feel?" Lynch asked.
Harry Sabine, 1st District commissioner then made a motion to leave the adjustment alone as it is the way the finance department adjusted the sanitation fund and draw down the fund balance on the sanitation fund if necessary later in the year. Sonya Rimmer, 8th District commissioner, supported the motion.
It was unanimously approved.
Commissioners and committee members Johnny Presley, 3rd District, and Charles Seiber, 4th District, did not attend the meeting.
With the adjustment, the breakdown of the 2011-'12 tax rate of $1.425 will be:
CROSSVILLE — Commissioners on the Environmental Committee authorized its engineer to proceed with the construction documents for the partial closure on the second half of the county's class one landfill.
Ronnie Reese, environmental engineer for Cumberland County's landfill, told commissioners serving on the Environmental Committee that phase 2 of the landfill closure for class one municipal waste and household garbage was almost full and it was time to proceed with closure preparations.
"You need to decide what you want to do with this, but I would recommend filling until the end of the month and compacting that down as much as possible and placing a temporary cap of one foot top cover to prevent so much water getting in creating as much leachate," Reese said.
Leachate is the byproduct or waste water that is drained from the bottom of the landfill. The liquid has to be taken to a treatment facility.
Once the landfill is closed, the county is scheduled to begin using a transfer station method through Cumberland Waste Disposal, a Waste Management company.
"Is the county ready to go to the transfer stations? I mean, when's the D-Day on that?" Jeff Brown, 8th District commissioner asked.
"I'm not sure," Reese said.
"The contracts and everything is in place on that. Basically, it's when we call them and we're ready and they'll start," Cumberland County Mayor Kenneth Carey said.
"You don't want to start a complete closure at this time in the year. It's up to you and you have to make the decision. But I'd recommend doing the temporary cover now and going ahead with the complete closure in spring," Reese said.
"If we do a temporary cover and wait till spring, will that affect the bidding?" 9th District Comissioner Carmin Lynch asked.
"Yes, it will. You're better off to wait on the bidding because of the plastic liner, it is based on oil prices and it can go up and down like a yo-yo. There's already a portion of it there ... You'd be better off to contract for a partial closure now with a temporary cap and then a permanent cap in the spring for the complete closure. I can have the paperwork and specifics ready to get to Nathan (Brock) and it should be ready to go out to bid in a few weeks," Reese said.
"Will we still have to deal with all the leachate?" 7th District Commissioner Mike Harvel asked.
"Yes, but it won't be anything like the amount we have had with the landfill open and running. I don't know a real figure for sure, though," Reese said.
Commissioner Lynch, who is not a member of the committee, but attended the meeting, reminded commissioners that phase one of the landfill closure was built into the budget, but phase two was not and the debt would have to be issued to have the figure and leachate would be a big factor.
Robert Safdie, 2nd District commissioner motioned to authorize Reese proceed with the documents to start with the partial closure on phase two with a temporary cap.
Terry Carter, 6th District commissioner, supported the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Reese updated commissioners on the status of the remainder of the class three-four landfill and said it could run until the summer of 2011. Reese said the area on top of that landfill was flat and could possibly be extended to go higher up with construction and demolition waste, but it would require a modification to the permit that would have to be submitted to the state.
"This would be considered a major modification if we wanted to extend it like that. You'd have to go through public meetings and a hearing process," Reese said.
He estimated it could extend the life of the class three-four landfill another four years.
"If you don't want to extend it, then we're looking at next summer for closure on that," Reese said.
Darrell Franklin of Faye Portables attended the meeting and addressed the committee stating they would be willing to transport up to 100 tons per day of ceramic tile to the class three-four landfill for a reduced rate.
The current rate is $30 per ton, but Faye requested a rate of $15 per ton since they would be bringing in such a large quantity on a daily basis.
"We'd be looking at around 100 tons per day. It could be more or less, but it's available now and it would be good for both of us. It could give you added revenue for your landfill costs," Darrell Franklin said.
He added it would be approximately 80 percent tile and 20 percent demolition combined.
"It would greatly accelerate the rate of our landfill closure, but it won't take up the volume as regular C&D waste," Mayor Carey said.
"Well, it would fill quicker and you've got to consider if we give these guys a reduction then our own people who elected us into these positions, our local contractors are going to want a discounted rate for bringing their stuff," said 7th District Commissioner Roy Turner.
"It wouldn't make any sense to do the discounted rate just to break even and fill the landfill up faster. It's something we've got to study," Brown said. "We'd need some kind of a contract to do this, too."
Commissioners said they would have to look at the proposal to consider and get some estimates from Reese on much it take in ceramic tile to fill the landfill and how much the extension would cost if they were to consider having it constructed.
"It's not something we can answer tonight. It's something we're going to have to look at and get back after we get some estimates," Brown said.
