County Preparing for Landfill's Expansion

In preparation for the future northward expansion of the , the is set to vote on an agreement with Paulding County on Tuesday that will allow waste to be disposed of closer to the county border.

“If you think of it as a large capital T … the upper most portion of that T is (372) acres that we cannot use without permission of Paulding County,” Government Services Department Director Tim Hussey said at Monday’s work session.

In the mid-'90s, Georgia began requiring that landfills not extend as close as a half-mile away from another county or city without permission from the adjacent governing body.

The agreement between Douglas and Paulding would allow Paulding residents to use the landfill for the same fees as Douglas residents (the rates are listed at the bottom of this article). Since 2006, Paulding citizens had been paying additional out-of-county fees.

“The good news is with more waste, means more revenue for us,” County Administrator Eric Linton said.

He said the resolution that the commission will likely approve on Tuesday is a “simple, one-page resolution” that will result in a “very slight” increase in disposals. He noted that many Paulding citizens will continue to use their county’s landfill or any others nearby that they’re already using.

Though the EPD requires only 200 feet, the final buffer between Paulding and Douglas will be 500 feet.

Douglas acquired 972 acres northwest of Douglasville in 1987 for the landfill, named after nearby Cedar Mountain. “Good decision by the commissioners … to purchase that land,” Commission Chairman Tom Worthan said. 

In 2001, 64 acres were added to the property at 1730 County Services Road to take the total acreage to 1,035.

Hussey emphasized that the future expansion does not mean the facility will close, but will move toward its second and third phases. All the land is projected to fill up by 2029, he added.

Also at Tuesday’s 10 a.m. meeting at the Douglas County Courthouse:

• The board is set to vote on the preparation of an Urban Redevelopment Plan for the county, which is meant to provide tax incentives from the state for areas of blight, vacancy and those seeking economic stimulus for growth.
• Commissioners will also vote on receiving a $1,000 grant from the to purchase fire safety education materials.

Also on Monday, county staff discussed applying for Livable Centers Initiative funding to construct a bike/pedestrian path that would connect Deerlick Park, Mt. Carmel Elementary School, the soccer complex, and Chestnut Log Middle School. The Atlanta Regional Commission would fund an estimated $1,600,000 with the county matching $260,000 over five years.

The 10-foot-wide, 1.5-mile-long path would need a crossing for Highway 92, something that Commissioner Kelly Robinson called a “tough animal” because of the road’s traffic.

Commissioner Ann Jones Guider noted that her district needs road improvements and that it might not be wise to use the local match money for the path.

If the commission does decide to move forward with the application, they’ll need to vote in favor before the Sept. 23 application deadline.

Also on Monday, commissioners were given a presentation on the county’s floodplain mapping. Preliminary maps around the county’s bodies of water are scheduled to be complete by September. In October, an open house will be held to inform citizens of the changes in mapping—whether they move them in or out of a floodplain.

A 90-day appeal period will then start, which could lead to changes in the maps if new data is provided. In March 2012, a six-month compliance period will begin for communities impacted by the new mapping, and citizens now in a floodplain will have to work toward meeting floodplain laws.

And in September 2012, the new maps will become official, and flood insurance will change for those moving in or out of the floodplain.

Cedar Mountain Landfill Rates

• Commercial Garbage: $39/ton (averages to $1.95 per 100 pounds)
• Household Garbage: $7/load up to 500 pounds
• Household Garbage with Recycling: $5/load up to 500 pounds
• Recycling Only: No Charge
• Construction/Demolition Waste: $35/ton ($1.75 per 100 pounds)
• Vegetative Waste (clean, with no other waste included): $33/ton ($1.65 per 100 pounds)
• Tires up to 17" in diameter: $5 each
• Tires larger than 17" in diameter: $15 each
• Freon-loaded items (refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners): $16 each
• Wood Chips/Mulch: Free (if you load it yourself)
• Refuse up to 500 pounds: $18 per load