News & Events

Authority hears landfill concerns
By SUMMER WALLACE-MINGER,Staff writer
(originally appeared in the Steubenville Herald Star)

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WINTERSVILLE — Springfield Township Trustee Mike Dubetz on Monday approached the Jefferson-Belmont Regional Solid Waste Authority Board of Directors to speak about concerns involving Apex Landfill in Amsterdam.

Dubetz, who lives in Amsterdam, complained about the smell, adding there was no agency for residents to call when the odor becomes offensive late in the evening.

“People can’t even open their windows,” he said.

Bruce Misselwitz, Jefferson County Health Department administrator, said the health department has received calls about the unpleasant smell and has worked with landfill and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency officials to address the matter.

He said a deodorant spraying system has been installed at the landfill and the empty trucks will be sprayed.

Dubetz also said he was concerned about the trucks traveling on township roads, adding he preferred they travel Apex-Amsterdam Road (county Road 78).

“What if a truck is coming one way and a school bus is coming the other way?” Dubetz said.

It was noted Apex-Amsterdam Road was undergoing repairs by crews with the Jefferson County Engineer’s Department and that may be a reason for the trucks traveling on other township roads.

Stephen Callahan, director of operations with Liberty Waste Services, which owns the landfill, said the trucks do not belong to Apex and a route is marked for the drivers, recommending they take Apex-Amsterdam Road.

Dubetz was informed the authority had no power to take action on these matters and was referred to the county health department and engineer’s office.

In other business:

• Solid Waste executive director Patrick Lanaghan announced the curbside recycling program in Powhatan Point will be extended for another six months. Samantha Carroll, Belmont County Recycling and Litter Prevention program director, said flyers were being distributed urging participation in the program.

• Lanaghan said 90 percent of Jefferson County residents have access to a recycling station, and nearly 90 percent of Belmont County residents have access to a recycling station there.

• A meeting between the executive committee and representatives from the Apex Landfill in Amsterdam has been scheduled for 3:30 p.m. July 18 to discuss a contract between the authority and the landfill.

• Legal adviser John Mascio said he had researched the matter of reimbursing board members for travel associated with the board meetings and neither the EPA nor the state auditor’s office had objections.

• The board discussed giving grants or donations to local charitable organizations working on projects in line with the board’s goals. It was decided Lanaghan would write a financial policy to address the matter.

• Misselwitz said the health department had been approved by the EPA as an inspector for landfills and construction and debris dumping points and will submit a budget to the authority for anticipated inspections of the Apex Landfill.

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