Final decision on Countywide could take years
BY Robert Wang
The Canton Repository
PIKE TWP - Elsie Zaleski spoke against the Countywide Recycling and Disposal Facility at meetings for several years.
But the 84-year-old Pike Township woman could do nothing to stop the landfill’s expansion. After months of suffering from the landfill’s odors last year, she died in June from stroke complications, her dream of a shutdown of Countywide still unrealized.
On Wednesday, her granddaughter Alison Roberts learned that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency had recommended that the Stark County Health Department deny Countywide a new annual operating license.
“My grandmother’s probably doing a jig up in heaven right now,” said Roberts, of Pike Township. “It gives us some hope that we can regain our lives and our quality of life.”
“I just want to thank God for bringing the truth out,” said Richard Harvey, a director of the activist group Club 3000.
But some are displeased that EPA Director Chris Korleski is leaving the door open for Countywide to continue to operate if it satisfies certain conditions.
Those include: Severely limiting how much waste it takes in until Countywide can show the landfill is stable and safe, submitting more data on air quality and odor emissions, developing options to deal with its underground fire, enhancing its odor control system, putting up more money for its bond and paying a fine.
“I think if the director lived in Bolivar/Zoar/Wilkshire Hills area, he wouldn’t have given them an out,” said Matt Ritterbeck of Bolivar.
“He says one thing on one page (of his letter), turns around and kind of covers himself,” said Club 3000 vice president Tom O’Dell.
Michele Nicoletti, of Pike Township expressed frustration about all the delays in keeping the landfill accountable.
“If I start burning tires in my backyard, I’m sure somebody would shut me down very, very quickly.”
But Deborah Dawson, the attorney for the Stark County Health Department, said that the process is not quick, especially since it’s the first time the EPA has recommended the department move toward shutting down a landfill.
“I’m in uncharted territory here,” she said.
First, the department’s staff has to go over the EPA’s materials. Stark County Health Commissioner Bill Franks would then meet informally with Countywide officials and attorneys to get their side of the story, before making a recommendation to the board. All this could take a month.
Then Franks would have to give a 30-day notice for a public hearing before the eight-member health board. If the board decides to deny the license, Countywide could appeal to the Ohio Environmental Review Appeals Commission in Columbus. It would be up to the appeals commissioners whether to allow Countywide to operate as they hear the appeal. Then the case could go before a state appeals court and possibly the Ohio Supreme Court.
The process could take years.
Despite the obstacles, Roberts hopes that somehow Countywide can be closed.
“We spent 15 years of taking their trash. Maybe someone else can take their turn,” she said, acknowledging that while closing Countywide doesn’t take care of the odor problem, it gets rid of the truck traffic.
Helen Dunbar, of Perry Township, who noted the fee revenue EPA gets from Countywide, is less optimistic.
“I won’t believe until it actually happens,” she said. “Money talks.”
The Canton Repository
PIKE TWP - Elsie Zaleski spoke against the Countywide Recycling and Disposal Facility at meetings for several years.
But the 84-year-old Pike Township woman could do nothing to stop the landfill’s expansion. After months of suffering from the landfill’s odors last year, she died in June from stroke complications, her dream of a shutdown of Countywide still unrealized.
On Wednesday, her granddaughter Alison Roberts learned that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency had recommended that the Stark County Health Department deny Countywide a new annual operating license.
“My grandmother’s probably doing a jig up in heaven right now,” said Roberts, of Pike Township. “It gives us some hope that we can regain our lives and our quality of life.”
“I just want to thank God for bringing the truth out,” said Richard Harvey, a director of the activist group Club 3000.
But some are displeased that EPA Director Chris Korleski is leaving the door open for Countywide to continue to operate if it satisfies certain conditions.
Those include: Severely limiting how much waste it takes in until Countywide can show the landfill is stable and safe, submitting more data on air quality and odor emissions, developing options to deal with its underground fire, enhancing its odor control system, putting up more money for its bond and paying a fine.
“I think if the director lived in Bolivar/Zoar/Wilkshire Hills area, he wouldn’t have given them an out,” said Matt Ritterbeck of Bolivar.
“He says one thing on one page (of his letter), turns around and kind of covers himself,” said Club 3000 vice president Tom O’Dell.
Michele Nicoletti, of Pike Township expressed frustration about all the delays in keeping the landfill accountable.
“If I start burning tires in my backyard, I’m sure somebody would shut me down very, very quickly.”
But Deborah Dawson, the attorney for the Stark County Health Department, said that the process is not quick, especially since it’s the first time the EPA has recommended the department move toward shutting down a landfill.
“I’m in uncharted territory here,” she said.
First, the department’s staff has to go over the EPA’s materials. Stark County Health Commissioner Bill Franks would then meet informally with Countywide officials and attorneys to get their side of the story, before making a recommendation to the board. All this could take a month.
Then Franks would have to give a 30-day notice for a public hearing before the eight-member health board. If the board decides to deny the license, Countywide could appeal to the Ohio Environmental Review Appeals Commission in Columbus. It would be up to the appeals commissioners whether to allow Countywide to operate as they hear the appeal. Then the case could go before a state appeals court and possibly the Ohio Supreme Court.
The process could take years.
Despite the obstacles, Roberts hopes that somehow Countywide can be closed.
“We spent 15 years of taking their trash. Maybe someone else can take their turn,” she said, acknowledging that while closing Countywide doesn’t take care of the odor problem, it gets rid of the truck traffic.
Helen Dunbar, of Perry Township, who noted the fee revenue EPA gets from Countywide, is less optimistic.
“I won’t believe until it actually happens,” she said. “Money talks.”
