City council approves restrictions on landfills

Council transferred funds to pay for an increase in bulk electricity it buys.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- City council has approved legislation that severely restricts landfills within the city.
Lawmakers unanimously approved the measure Wednesday out of concern that a landfill company may want to build a facility to handle construction debris within the city limits.
The legislation places limits on where a landfill can exist, the minimum acreage required, and proximity to residential neighborhoods and water courses.
The legislation was written by Law Director J. Terrence Dull, taking the best of ordinances passed by the cities of Warren and Girard.
Council approved the limitations after a public hearing before the meeting in which no one opposed the restrictions.
The issue surfaced this summer after Total Waste Logistics proposed a second landfill in Girard for construction and demolition debris.
Total Waste operates a landfill along Salt Springs Road in Girard and is proposing another on 19.9 acres along U.S. Route 422, near the Mahoning River behind Creekside Golf Dome.
In other action, lawmakers transferred $4.9 million from the unappropriated light fund to the power bills account to pay for the added cost of electricity.
The city buys bulk power from American Municipal Power-Ohio, a nonprofit electric-supply company, and resells it to customers.
Mayor Ralph A. Infante explained that the $4.9 million will be used to help pay AMP-Ohio for electricity this year. When the power co-op couldn't produce enough electricity because of the hot summer, it had to buy power on the open market at a much higher rate.
Infante has pointed out there have been increased operating costs in general. He has called attention to an increase in state tax on energy, health-care costs and maintenance.
The city had budgeted $18 million for electricity this year, but actually needs $22.9 million because of the increased costs, the mayor said.
Last month, Infante imposed a power charge of 2.4 cents per kilowatt hour, or about 30 percent. It was added to the 7.8 cents already being charged city customers.
The mayor said the city will receive $3 million from the power charge by the end of the year, bringing the unappropriated light fund's balance to $5.9 million.
The fund that once had $10 million is used to pay for improvements to the city's power distribution system, Infante said.