Published: March 10, 2006 10:53 pm      

CCASWA rejects landfill purchase offer

CLINTON — Directors of the Clinton County Area Solid Waste Agency were approached Thursday evening by Doug Collins of Allied Waste Industries to explore a possible purchase of the county landfill.

Owen noted his firm has been notified by the Iowa Department of Transportation that the company’s current transfer station site in Clinton will be absorbed during the U.S. 30/67 Liberty Square redevelopment project.

The company has been given a year and a half to move, Collins said. He presented no specific proposal Thursday night.

Members of the landfill board voted 8-3 to look at offering Allied Waste a commercial contract, but not to sell the landfill at this time.

Voting in favor of the motion were representatives from Clinton, Andover, Grand Mound, Low Moor, DeWitt, Wheatland, Camanche and Clinton County.

Voting against it were representatives from Delmar, Charlotte and Goose Lake.

Agency director Laura Liegois told the Herald that Allied Waste representatives are expected to return in April or May with a proposal.

Meanwhile, Liegois said she will be preparing data on the landfill operation and will ask the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for a letter about future liability issues.

The landfill agency is in good shape financially, Liegois said, but is not in business to make a profit.

“Our goal is to provide solid waste programs to the citizens of Clinton County and make enough money to be self-supporting,” she said.

According to the Waste Age magazine Waste Age 100, Allied Waste, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., is the second -largest waste disposal company in the nation. The operation in Clinton formerly was named Hawkeye Disposal Co.

In other business

n Liegois announced the agency will accept telephone books in the recycling bins.

n Board members approved raises of 3 percent in fiscal year 2007 across the board for the agency’s staff, which consists of eight full-time, two part-time recycling and one part-time office employee.

n Engineer C.J. Lage reported the sewer line connection to Clinton is finished. Cleaning and reseeding of the construction area will be done as weather permits.