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09-09-1976 - Special -~ o o CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDGEWATER, FLORIDA SPECIAL MEETING HELD September 9, 1976 Mayor Armstrong called the special meeting of the City Council of the City of Edgewater to order Thursday, September 9th at 2:30 P.M. u~m ROLL CALL: Mayor Dana T. Armstrong Councilwoman Ryta F. Webber Councilman William H. Cairnie Councilman Walter B. Sikes Councilman Calvin R. Dietz City Attorney Judson I. Woods City Clerk Sue Blackwell Present Present Present Present Present Excused Present Mayor Armstrong explained that this meeting has been called to discuss the landfill situation. There are still some questions that the people would like some answers to. Mayor Armstrong asked where Tomoka Landfill pumps their water. Mr. Ralph Malloy spoke to the Council about this. He explained that the old landfill was closed because leachate was reaching the ditch and being discharged. He explained that the new landfill was designed with an 18 foot ditch dug to lower the water table sufficiently below where the bottom of the cells would be. He stated that there is no leachate water being discharged from Tomoka Landfill. Mr. Christy asked what is being done about the old landfill, and how are they getting rid of the contaminated water? Mr. Malloy stated that as far as he knows there is being no water taken from that area. Mr. Hunnicutt stated that there is quite a difference between using a landfill and putting more material into an area thats high water table and abandoning one and leaving what has been done in the past there. He stated that in some cases an old landfill could be abandoned without pumping forever more so than allowing new material to go in there which keeps perpetuating the problem. He added that moving this material to another place may cause more problems than already exist. Mayor Armstrong stated that the existing landfill in its geographic location, any permits for building will have to be deep wells, and so on, we are protected against the contamination in that way. He described the area where the landfill is located. He explained that the County is planning to go into a shredder system; New Smyrna Beach has a transport station, and their equipment is old and they do not have the funds to replace all of the equipment, and this operation is going to have to be an area wide operation to go to the shredder system. He stated that he would like to see that we could operate until this becomes a reality. Mr. Hunnicutt answered that this might be possible, but in order to do it, some measures would have to be taken to dewater the area, and the City would have to determine about the cost feasibility of this. Q u He also stated that the water would probably have to be treated, but again this is an option that the City will have to explore. He explained that a 100,000 gallon a day package plant could be put out there the cost figure would be approximately $100,000. Councilman Sikes asked Mr. Hunnicutt if he could recommend what we should do? Mr. Hunnicutt stated that if he was in the Council IS position he would probably try to find a better solution than to try all of the expensive methods to treat the water. He added that this depends on what the City is faced with as far as the availability of lands, and costs of lands and the availability of other alternatives which he is not aware of. After more questioning, Mr. Hunnicutt stated that there is having to treat the water to continue using the landfill. that there are several different disposal methods and some more sensitive to these pollutents than others are. no way out of He explained of them are Several questions from the audience were answered. Councilman Dietz asked what our percentage is as far as being one of the Cities that can close up the landfill and not having to do anything else with it? Tape l-A Mr. Hunnicutt stated that he feels that it is probably real good right now. and he stated that if he finds anything out to the contrary he certainly will let the City know. Mr. Collins explained that if the City decided to go that way, there would have to be something in writing and they would get a waiver from dewatering the site for the City. Mrs. Turner questioned all the small landfills being closed down and the larger Cities being allowed to keep theirs. Mr. Collins stated that he had said that sometimes it is more feasible to close down the dumps, and for an example, three Cities could get together and incorporate this and share the cost of running one landfill for all three Cities. He stated that it may be more feasible to have one large landfill instead of three small ones because of the duplicity of the equipment, personnel and things like that. There was some discussion about the possibility of discharging this water into a lake. It was stated that if the lake could be in a higher location it may work, however if it is in a low area it will not. There was also discussion that if an area is all low and they can not find an acceptable landfill area, another solution is incineration unless there is an area close by that they can be tied together on a transport basis. It was stated that incineration is quite an expensive method. Mayor Armstrong stated that we could talk on for a week, however we all understand what our problems are and there are a number of alternatives. He stated that we have accepted a bid for a private enterprise for the garbage collectioc. He spoke more on this, stating that if a private enterprise can make money hauling our garbage to Tomoka, why can't we haul it ourselves, because we have equipment now that we are either going to have to use or sell. Councilman Dietz stated that our insurance will go up, we will have to have larger equipment, and the labor alone will cost us a lot. Councilman Sikes asked if there is any way we can use our landfill for tree cuttings and leaves and such, and not burn? Mr. Hunnicutt stated that after July 1, 1977 all solid waste has to have 6 inches of cover on it daily, but you still have to have your five foot elevation -2- r o o It was explained that if the City decides to close the landfill they will be given another five or six months, and a permit to close in so many days. After discussion about this, Mayor Armstrong stated that if we made a covenant with the State and we apply for a permit to close the dump, as of May 1,1977 on certain conditions that we will landscape, sod and seed, put up a gate and keep it private to the City, and so on, we will be allowed to use it up to and close it on that date. The answer to this was yes. Councilman Dietz asked Mr. Fernandez what his recommendation to the City would be at this point? Mr. Fernandez stated that he would recommend that we close it. Councilman Sikes stated that in 1974 the landfill was to the point of being closed, and this Council has worked hard from that time on to keep it open and we have gone as far as we can. Councilwoman Webber asked Mr. Collins if we say today that we are going to close the landfill, then we will no longer have to plant grass, and do all of these things? Mr. Collins stated that this will have to be done anyway, the only thing is the dewatering. If the City writes a letter saying that it would be an economic hardship to pump it down, everything will be done to help the City get that waived, and as much time as they need, but the City has to decide what they want to do. Mayor Armstrong stated that if the Council decides to close the landfill and there are certain requirements to be met, then the City should make monthly reports to show what progress is being made. Tape 2-A Mayor Armstrong stated again, the question is are we going to close the landfill or are we going to keep the landfill and meet the high cost of filtering a plant? Councilman Sikes stated that he feels that we should decide where we are going before we decide to close the landfill. We should know what we are going to do, haul it ourselves or go to a private contractor or what. Mayor Armstrong stated that we have invited these gentlemen to come here and discuss this with us,and he doesn't see any reason why we couldn't apply for a permit to operate the landfill until the closing date of May 1st. Councilman Sikes made a motion that this Council close the sanitary landfill to abide with the Department of Environmental Regulations, being seconded by Councilwoman Webber. Upon roll call vote said motion CARRIED, 5-0. Mayor Armstrong stated that a letter will be put together in regard to this action. He also thanked the men present for coming to this meeting, and for their cooperation. RECESS: Councilman Cairnie made a motion that we recess this meeting until 7:30 tonight, being seconded by Councilman Dietz. Said motion CARRIED. MINUTES TAKEN BY: Sue Blackwell Debbie Sigler -3- , . Q (,) Minutes of meeting held September 9, 1976 at 2:30 P.M. ,;{~Y'C;;~~~ -/'e3 Q.t~ r' CW../~ ~ co~man ~ ..~ co"nc' n --yu--- Councilman ATTEST: ;;J1uJ ~ Ci ty C1 erk ~ C}o day of , 1976 -4-