It’s been 10 years since Loudon County’s Matlock Bend Landfill
was under the supervision of a county employee.
Since that time, problems, including a landslide in 2010 and a
shortage in accruing closure costs, have led to a
reconsideration of the need for the position.
Steve Field, chairman of the Loudon County Solid Waste Disposal
Commission, told the county commission Monday his board is
moving ahead with a plan for the county to hire a new director
of solid waste. “We’re working on a job description,” he said.
Loudon County previously had a director of the landfill but
eliminated the position in 2002. Former landfill director Mike
Atkins, who now works for Monroe County, said he believes Loudon
County needs a full-time waste director.
The waste commission, made up of residents with varied fields of
expertise, needs to be able to rely on the advice of a director
with an understanding of the waste management industry, Atkins
said. “It’s an important job that requires somebody who knows
the business,” he said.
Field told the commission he believes the new director should be
a county employee, reporting directly to the county mayor. In
previous discussions, it has been suggested the director’s
salary might be paid by the county, by the waste commission or
by a combination of the stakeholders, including the city of
Loudon and Lenoir City.
Lenoir City Mayor Tony Aikens has raised concerns about a
possible tax increase related to some of the funding and
operations problems at the landfill. He said he supports the
creation of the new position.
Field also said the waste commission is still engaged in
contract negotiations with Santek Environmental Services, the
company managing the Matlock Bend Landfill.
An audit released earlier this year confirmed that under the
current Santek contract, signed in 2007, the solid waste
commission is not accruing enough money to fund the closure
costs of the landfill. The long-term costs are estimated at up
to $8 million.
Field said he is “optimistic” that the commission will be able
to reach a deal that will be acceptable to Santek and the
commission.
He said the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
has been encouraging Santek to adopt a “close as you go” policy.
The policy would reduce long-term closure costs by closing cells
in the landfill as they are filled instead of waiting until the
landfill closes in the next 25-30 years.
In addition to requiring that the landfill cells are covered
with soil and replanted, TDEC requires the property be monitored
for 30 years following closure.
County Mayor Estelle Herron said she has appointed a new member
of the solid waste commission. Tom Paul, a resident of Tellico
Village, will replace Bill Waldrup, who announced his
resignation