Judge Executive Johnny Guion announced Tuesday that District Manager Kenny McCarty has asked that his company's application for a solid waste transfer station permit be put on hold.
Magistrate Jimmy White, however, voiced an objection to that. He said he wants the Waste Management (WM) application withdrawn, not temporarily set aside.
The court voted unanimously to request WM to withdraw the application completely.
A group of residents from the area had appeared at the court meeting two weeks earlier to complain about the growing odor, litter, bird population and unsightliness associated with the landfill.
Dorothy Krepps said that conditions have deteriorated considerably in the few years she and her husband have lived nearby.
She and others in attendance said that Waste Management needs to correct problems with the services the landfill provides before they are permitted to do anything else.
The group got the promise of a public hearing on the application and said they would like for it to be at night so that more people can attend.
Now such a hearing doesn't appear to be necessary.
The past few days' problems experienced by an overflow of the landfill pond have compounded negative feelings toward the landfill.
See related story at the top of Page A-1.
Still most of the people present at the meeting-- officials and neighbors alike-- seemed to appreciate McCarty's candor and his desire to correct problems.
"This landfill smells worse than any landfill I've been around. There is no need for it to be like this," McCarty admitted at that Oct. 8 meeting. He had been on the job only a few days at the time.
Barry Smotherman, who has been the landfill's most outspoken critic for years, was not among those impressed. He said when McCarty makes visits to meet the neighbors, he can skip his house.
See Barry Smotherman's letter on Page A-4
At this week's meeting, Solid Waste Coordinator Denny Harris said he is impressed with the efforts that McCarty is making and how much more open to inspection and suggestions the landfill staff is now.
It was also announced that WM has paid the money it promised the Logan County Economic Development Commission as part of its agreement with the county. So far that amount is $4,600.
The company will also keep its word about paying the cost of transportation for sending recyclables to market, as soon as Bluegrass Recycling can provide proper documentation for the expense.
Well over half of the three-hour meeting Tuesday was spent discussing solid waste matters, including White's attempt to make it possible for Harris' job to be reduced to part-time.
Details will follow in a later edition of the N-D&L.
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