Out of the landfill business?

City discusses transferring ownership of former landfill to Veolia

Johnna Pinholster

VALDOSTA — The City of Valdosta may soon be out of the landfill business.

City Manager Larry Hanson presented council with the possibility of transferring ownership of the city’s former landfill to Veolia at Tuesday’s work session.

Veolia is also requesting an easement agreement between the City of Valdosta and Veolia for access to the future Evergreen Landfill.

The best route into the Evergreen Landfill, which will be opened when the Pecan Row Landfill reaches capacity, is on the road that goes through the city’s former landfill.

The easement will give Veolia access to the road and the company will be responsible for maintaining it, Hanson said.

The Georgia Department of Environmental Protection has approved the minor modification that is required when granting the easement, he said.

City attorney George Talley briefed the council on the proposed Letter of Understanding for the reconfiguration and expansion of the Evergreen Landfill.

Veolia has purchased property formerly owned by the Langdale Company that butts up to the Evergreen Landfill and the city’s former landfill, Talley said.

The Letter of Understanding details that the city, upon execution of the Letter of Understanding, will convey the city landfill property to the Deep South Solid Waste Management Authority.

The authority will in turn lease the city landfill back to the city for the purpose of maintaining control and responsibility for any ongoing post-closure and corrective action activities pending the completion of state permitting processes for the Evergreen Landfill.

After the authority receives the title of the city landfill property they can grant Veolia an option to purchase the property. If purchased by Veolia, the company will assume all post-closure care and corrective action in terms of the permits issued for the Evergreen Landfill.

Hanson said the purchase of the property will be beneficial to the city as Veolia will go in and clean out the former landfill, line the area and refill it. It will also relinquish the city of any liability in regards to testing the area, he said.

The city’s contract with Veolia requires that the city be the lowest paying customer, something that will not be changed if the easement and Letter of Understanding are approved, Hanson said.

The Deep South Solid Waste Management Authority will also begin receiving a $1.25 per ton royalty fee that will in turn be distributed to the members of the authority, which includes the City of Valdosta.

In other news:

The consulting firm hired to analyze the city’s management of storm water and give recommendations concerning the storm water master plan updated the council on its progress.

Patrick Vickers of CDM, said the city has two separate issues — flooding from the Withlacoochee and the Sugar Creek watershed.

Though the Withlacoochee does not flow within the city of Valdosta, the city lies within the 1,500 square mile Withlacoochee and Little River watershed.

The city’s drainage, Vickers said, is approximately one percent of the entire basin.

Vickers said CDM has focused on the Sugar Creek watershed at this time.

Mayor John Fretti then asked if CDM would make recommendations concerning a retention pond outside the city limits or other recommendations that could then be referred to the state to help with future flooding.

“The current master plan is within the city limits,” Vickers said.

Robert Yost, District 6, said that the city should discuss possible options with communities and unincorporated areas within the county in terms of managing the water flow outside the city limits.

Since October 2009, CDM has evaluated Sugar Creek, One Mile Branch, Browns Canal and Hightower Creek, Vickers said.

The areas studied represent 8.2 square miles of creek, he said.

Reducing the velocity of the water, eliminates erosion and stops sediment from depositing, he said.

Erosion threatens existing sewer lines and poses a potential health risk, while accumulation of sedimentation disrupts water flow.

The solutions, Vickers said, are varied.

The consulting firm suggested the city build six regional stormwater facilities to slow down water, build 16 grade control structures, construct 3,000 feet of bank reinforcement, build four baffle boxes and

dredge Sugar Creek.

Stormwater retention ponds can serve two purposes, Vickers said, hold excess water and be public use amenities.

Grade controls would be terraced areas within the water flow areas that would slow down water, Vickers said.

The grade controls breaks down the speed at which water flows, he said.

Baffle boxes capture sediment at the southern end of the basin. The city would use vacuum trucks to remove the sediment from the baffle boxes, he said.

Fretti asked if these proposed projects would just support an immediate flood phenomenon are withstand an event last two days or longer.

If all controls were put in place they could withstand a 25 year storm, Vickers said.

Tim Carroll, District 5, asked how this would be paid for.

Hanson said $3.5 million in SPLOST funds is available for these projects.

The council will consider the appointment of either Mary Bryant, Latesha Bradley or Issa Hart to the Valdosta Historic Preservation Commission on Thursday.

The Hospital Authority has submitted three names for the council to consider to fill a spot on the Hospital Authority of Valdosta and Lowndes County.

Incumbent John W. Langdale has agreed to serve again if selected, while James Harley Langdale and Ben Copeland have submitted applications for appointment.

The appointments for a spot on the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority has a familiar name on the list.

In addition to applicants Kenneth J. Hotcaveg, Timm Samples and Robert E. Willis, Yost has submitted an application for appointment.

Yost, who is Vice President of Programs for Special Olympics Georgia can serve on board per the authority’s membership requirements. The City of Valdosta and Lowndes County Board of Commissioners appoint three members of each, one of whom may be a member of the appointing governing authority. The county manager and city manager both serve as non-voting ex-officio members of the authority. Valdosta City Council will hold their regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall.