White County officials looking for a new site for the Solid Waste Department building, after the proposed site failed septic tests.
County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said one suggestion to resolve the issue is to acquire an adjacent piece of property.
“I can negotiate with them with a contingent upon county commission approval,” Robinson said. “It would be the full commission, not just this but county commission approval and then contingent upon the Phase One environmental coming back satisfactory.”
Robinson said an eight-acre tract of land adjoining the current facility is available for consideration. The Solid Waste Committee voted 4-1 to grant Robinson the authority to negotiate for the property. Robinson said the environmental study on the property will cost approximately $3,000.
Commissioner Roger Mason said the original site, an old quarry, consists of disturbed soil that lacks the depth to perk, while the adjacent property contains undisturbed soil.
The county is currently leasing a facility from Jackson Kayak to house the department. Robinson said the county is paying $3,000 per month for that space and has informed the owners they are working as quickly as possible to move.
“They haven’t given us a timeframe on it,” Robinson said. “We just told them we’d work as fast as we could to get it moved.”
The committee also received an update from Waste Management regarding operations at the landfill. Senior Director Steven Clark said the facility is currently receiving approximately 500 tons of waste per day from surrounding counties.
Clark said the volume was intentionally decreased based on current construction capacity as the facility prepares to move into Phase 1B. Clark said the construction includes setting up power and creating a new entrance off Old Kentucky.
