Lawrence official relates concern about Countywide
The Times-Reporter
BOLIVAR – Bill Huth, Lawrence Township zoning inspector, reported on a recent meeting held in Columbus with Laura Powell, acting Ohio Environmental Protection Agency director, and several members of her staff.
Huth told township trustees at their meeting Thursday that documents show a possible underground fire problem at Countywide Recycling and Disposal Facility in Pike Township, Stark County, just north of Bolivar.
The documents reported the over heating problem was first detected in 2001 and reported to the Canton Air Pollution Authority from 2002 to 2006.
“The local air authority continued to receive official reports of higher than permitted and ever-increasing underground temperatures at the landfill from 2002 to 2006 and no action was taken to force compliance or cite the facility for non-compliance,” Huth said.
“We have concerns about the discharge by the landfill of millions of gallons of run permitted and possibly contaminated runoff water into Sandy Creek and the Tuscarawas River. With the installation of a plastic membrane over a 30-acre section of the landfill, it has increased the amount of storm water runoff and has overloaded their sedimentation and retention ponds which discharge directly into the local stream and recharge system.”
During area officials’ visit with OEPA a file review was conducted of the agency’s documents pertaining to its investigation of the odor problem at Countywide.
Trustees also agreed to look at options and legal issues concerning Oxford Mining that have trucks traveling on Fort Laurens Rd.
Mike Renner, a property owner who lives near the entrance of Oxford Mining said the dirt and dust is tracked onto Fort Laurens Rd. and the road is so dirty that the center line is not visible and the houses are covered with grime from the trucks.
He said more than 600 trucks enter and leave the facility most days. Huth said the company recently purchased a road cleaning machine and hired a full-time employee to operate it.
On another matter, trustees agreed to hold an auction Feb. 22 at 5 at the township building on Industrial Pkwy. Township items that will be sold include a brush hog, tools, a riding mower, dump trailer and a 1999, 4900 Series International dump truck with a snow plow.
In other business, trustees granted a pay raise to three employees: Charlie Meiser, road superintendent, $17 per hour ($16.85); Todd Reynolds, $16 per hour ($15.92); and Charles McNutt, $15 per hour ($14).
The trustees pay 100 percent of the employees health insurance and Public Employees Retirement System premiums.
Trustees will consider additional increases in June.
