Residents: Get good deal with Waste Management

Once a tentative agreement is worked out, it will be presented at a public meeting.

By MARY GRZEBIENIAK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NEW SPRINGFIELD — Residents told Springfield Township trustees Friday that they believe Waste Management should make major concessions before the township signs a host community agreement with the company.

For many years Waste Management has operated a landfill on East Garfield Road here.

The state encourages such landfills to work out host community agreements with local authorities. These can include monetary donations and other concessions to the community in recognition of the inconvenience to residents and the added burden on community services caused by the landfill’s presence.

Trustee James Holleran, whose term will expire Dec. 31, said the purpose of Friday’s special meeting was for him to update the other trustees and Trustee-elect Rick Jones on talks he has had so far on the agreement. Holleran has been the trustee delegated to talk with officials from the landfill.

He said Waste Management has now submitted a draft agreement which was to be discussed in executive session. Holleran assured residents that once a tentative agreement is worked out, it will be presented at a public meeting before it is approved.

About 25 residents attended the meeting and many questioned what a host agreement would accomplish. Those living near the landfill were especially vocal and criticized the failure of the company or the county board of health to do anything about offensive odors.

Local farmer Rick Molnar, who owns 300 to 400 acres near the landfill, said, “I’ve smelled pig manure and hog manure, but this is rank.” He complained that with Waste Management’s recent purchase of additional property, his farm will be surrounded by company property and his property value likely diminished.

“If you’re getting money [from them],” he told the trustees, “make sure it’s big time,” he said. “I want this township compensated and compensated well. There shouldn’t need to be a police levy or a fire levy.”

Other residents who live near the landfill complain their property values are being affected and that their complaints about unpleasant odors have made no difference.

Trustee Robert Orr said some odor-suppressing equipment has been installed at the landfill but residents said there is no difference. Holleran conceded that trustees have complained about the odor but the health department official who checks it says there is no problem.

“You get to a point where you know you’re spinning your wheels and you’re not going to get anywhere,” he said.

Holleran said that one of the items being considered for inclusion in the host agreement is a compensation by the landfill to any resident who sells their home at less than the appraised value.

Another resident asked the trustees to make sure the landfill doesn’t expand across Columbiana-New Castle Road.

Holleran said that as far as he knows, the new property purchased by the landfill is being used to obtain topsoil to use as cover and that Waste Management is currently looking only to expand the “footprint” or base of the current landfill so that the peak can be higher.

He added that township can’t deny the landfill the right to expand.