Mayors worry landfill proposal will cause hike in waste hauler costs
A contract requiring all trash generated locally to flow to the Holmes County Landfill got a cool reception Monday, March 14, from the mayors of Millersburg and Killbuck.
Millersburg Mayor Jeff Huebner and Killbuck Mayor Denny Hahn said the contract will mean rate increases for trash collection that will be passed on to their residents. Hahn and Huebner voiced their concerns at Monday’s Millersburg council meeting, which was attended by Rob Ault and Joe Miller, Holmes County commissioners.
The contract, proposed by waste management firm Rumpke, would reopen the landfill for at least the next three to four years. Rumpke has asked the Holmes County commissioners to require flow control of trash collected in the county, meaning it must go to the landfill. Rumpke will set the tipping fee for waste haulers.
Huebner said the proposed tipping fee, estimated at $53, is higher than that paid by trash hauler J&J to dump at landfills owned by parent company Kimble. J&J has an exclusive contract with Millersburg.
Scott Walter, manager of business development for Kimble Companies, said the tipping fees will mean an increase of about $2.89 per month for Millersburg clients.
“I feel we did due diligence for our residents by bidding out (trash service) and getting the lowest price,” Huebner said. “I don’t think it’s fair at this time to ask for a $10 a (billing) quarter increase.”
Miller said the county will not ask J&J to dump at the landfill until a three year contract with the village is up. After that, Miller said, he will leave it to the village to cooperate.
“We can’t force you,” Miller said. “We would ask that you work with us...We would expect it.”
Killbuck council is currently working on an ordinance to establish a single trash hauler in the village.
“We’re in the process of setting up a contract. Do we need to allow for flow control?” Hahn said. “I hate to use the word force...you’re not forcing Millersburg, but still.”
Rumpke’s proposal was one of three presented to the commissioners regarding the landfill. The landfill has become what Commissioner Joe Miller called “a monster” of a liability problem for the county. If it is to be closed, Miller said, the county would incur about $10 million in closing and monitoring costs over the next 30 years.
Rumpke’s proposal would reopen the landfill on a trial basis for about four years. If the landfill is viable, they will seek expansion that gives the landfill another 10 to 15 years of life.
Walter said flow control would result in an “indirect tax” on Millersburg residents for the long term, regardless of who the hauler is.
“If flow control is implemented, J&J is going to have to charge a higher cost,” Walter said. “With no guarantee that the landfill will close, that’s kind of the concern.”
Kimble was one of the three companies that offered proposals, Walter said. Kimble proposed closing the landfill after filling the space currently available without seeking an expansion.
Commissioners will hold several public hearings before approving the contract with Rumpke, Miller said.
The landfill closed in 2007.
Millersburg Mayor Jeff Huebner and Killbuck Mayor Denny Hahn said the contract will mean rate increases for trash collection that will be passed on to their residents. Hahn and Huebner voiced their concerns at Monday’s Millersburg council meeting, which was attended by Rob Ault and Joe Miller, Holmes County commissioners.
The contract, proposed by waste management firm Rumpke, would reopen the landfill for at least the next three to four years. Rumpke has asked the Holmes County commissioners to require flow control of trash collected in the county, meaning it must go to the landfill. Rumpke will set the tipping fee for waste haulers.
Huebner said the proposed tipping fee, estimated at $53, is higher than that paid by trash hauler J&J to dump at landfills owned by parent company Kimble. J&J has an exclusive contract with Millersburg.
Scott Walter, manager of business development for Kimble Companies, said the tipping fees will mean an increase of about $2.89 per month for Millersburg clients.
“I feel we did due diligence for our residents by bidding out (trash service) and getting the lowest price,” Huebner said. “I don’t think it’s fair at this time to ask for a $10 a (billing) quarter increase.”
Miller said the county will not ask J&J to dump at the landfill until a three year contract with the village is up. After that, Miller said, he will leave it to the village to cooperate.
“We can’t force you,” Miller said. “We would ask that you work with us...We would expect it.”
Killbuck council is currently working on an ordinance to establish a single trash hauler in the village.
“We’re in the process of setting up a contract. Do we need to allow for flow control?” Hahn said. “I hate to use the word force...you’re not forcing Millersburg, but still.”
Rumpke’s proposal was one of three presented to the commissioners regarding the landfill. The landfill has become what Commissioner Joe Miller called “a monster” of a liability problem for the county. If it is to be closed, Miller said, the county would incur about $10 million in closing and monitoring costs over the next 30 years.
Rumpke’s proposal would reopen the landfill on a trial basis for about four years. If the landfill is viable, they will seek expansion that gives the landfill another 10 to 15 years of life.
Walter said flow control would result in an “indirect tax” on Millersburg residents for the long term, regardless of who the hauler is.
“If flow control is implemented, J&J is going to have to charge a higher cost,” Walter said. “With no guarantee that the landfill will close, that’s kind of the concern.”
Kimble was one of the three companies that offered proposals, Walter said. Kimble proposed closing the landfill after filling the space currently available without seeking an expansion.
Commissioners will hold several public hearings before approving the contract with Rumpke, Miller said.
The landfill closed in 2007.
Published: March 15, 2011
