Columbiana leaders want county to control landfills

By D.a. Wilkinson

Proposed legislation would protect public and private whistle blowers.

LISBON — The Columbiana County commissioners want the state to return the supervision of construction debris landfills to the county board of health.

The proposal came as a surprise to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency which has control of the program in the county.

Mike Settles, a spokesman for the OEPA, said that former county health commissioner Robert Morehead was essentially, “making the rules.”

The commissioners, who voted on Wednesday to make the request, said they wanted the portion of fees for waste disposal to return to the county instead of going to the OEPA.

The commissioners didn’t know how much the fees would bring in.

Settles said that for 2008, Elkrun Industries in Rogers and Total Waste Logistics in Negley, the two construction and demolition debris landfills operating in the county, paid the OEPA some $188,693. Ninety percent of that would normally go to the county health department.

A&L Salvage Landfill in Lisbon was operating for much of 2008, but did not submit reports or pay fees to the state. It was the site of many complaints.

The county health department could submit a proposal to regain control of the construction debris program, but it would need to include substantial changes, reforms and assurances if it were to be seriously considered, Settles said.

Penny Traina, the chairman of the commissioners, said it was awkward when people called the commissioners about waste issues and the commissioners had to call the OEPA for information.

Settles said he believed that a decision to return or not return the program to county supervision would be up to OEPA Director Chris Korleski.

The Environmental Review Appeals Committee, which is composed of specialists who are not part of the OEPA, made the final decision to end the county’s oversight.

The letter from the commissioners also asked the OEPA to help local officials with technical or enforcement issues.

In other business, the commissioners said they were unaware that Ohio Auditor of State Mary Taylor and legislators are working on legislation that protects citizens or public workers who blow the whistle on financial abuse.

The proposed law was written in part because of cases like Morehead’s, said Emily K. Frazee, a spokesperson for Taylor’s office,

The longtime head of the county health board was sentenced in February to sixty days in a minimum security facility after being found guilty of theft in office. Morehead claimed the problem stemmed from sloppy record keeping. According to Taylor’s office, Morehead still owes the county $10,700.

Frazee said that Senate Bill Seven and House Bill 58 require the state auditor to maintain a system for citizens and public employees to sasfely report allegations of fraudulent activity. The legislation passed in the Senate and has been introduced in the House.

Morehead’s staff overwhelmingly supported Morehead during the state audit and prosecution.

Under the plan, people can call the Auditor of State’s toll-free fraud hotline, 866-FRAUD-OH (866-372-8364), by submitting an online complaint form to www.fraudohio.com, or by U.S. Mail.

The legislation would also require state and local government agencies to educate new employees about how to report allegations of fraud or misspending.

As part of regularly scheduled financial audits, the state auditor’s office will routinely check to see if public entities are complying with the law.

wilkinson@vindy.com.