County eyes hauling waste to proposed facility in Appomattox

As the Amherst County Board of Supervisors weighs long-term options to dispose of the county’s waste in upcoming years, officials are tuned into a company’s proposal to build a transfer station in Appomattox County.

The board agreed at its Jan. 15 meeting to wait two months to see how County Waste of Southwest Virginia’s request for a conditional use permit to build a transfer station and recycling center on more than 34 acres next to U.S. 460 on the western edge of Appomattox County proceeds. Amherst supervisors have considered closing the county’s landfill on Kentmoor Farm Road in Madison Heights when its current cell fills out in the near future and building a transfer station at the landfill or the site of a former county landfill on Riverview Road in Madison Heights.

The most viable option for saving the most money is hauling waste to the potential private transfer station in Appomattox five miles from the Amherst County line, pending its approval, according to Amherst County officials. 

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“If we don’t have to build a transfer station, or we don’t have to build a new [landfill] cell, that is going to be the lowest cost option,” County Administrator Dean Rodgers said. “The only issue then is maintaining our flexibility for the future …”

The Appomattox County Planning Commission during its Jan. 9 meeting tabled a decision on recommending to Appomattox’s board of supervisors approval or denial of County Waste’s proposal. Rodgers told Amherst supervisors he has discussed the project with Appomattox County Administrator Susan Adams and she believes it will move forward and receive a conditional use permit to operate, he said.

If Amherst County proceeds in the direction of using that facility, Rodgers said the county would have to decide what to do with approximately $4 million it borrowed anticipating expanding the landfill or building a transfer station.

Supervisors inquired about using the money for other solid waste projects, including a new planned convenience center on the U.S. 60 West corridor in Lowesville that cost more than anticipated. Stacey Wilkes, the county’s director of finance, said the county’s time frame for spending tax-exempt bonds is approaching in May, but as long as the money is used in the realm of solid waste disposal options it likely can be applied for other projects.

The county has worked with Draper Aden Associates, a Lynchburg firm, in analyzing its waste disposal options and so far spent $13,500. Supervisors decided last week to hold off on spending $16,600 in additional studies as it awaits Appomattox County’s decision on the private transfer station proposal.

“I don’t think this county needs to build a transfer station. One’s going to be built in Appomattox County,” Supervisor David Pugh said. “We could use that and 10 years down the road, if the price gets too outrageous we could look at doing something else.”

At an Oct. 2 town hall meeting Amherst supervisors held on the landfill’s fate, several residents urged the county to hold off on a decision to see how the Appomattox project plays out.

Supervisor Claudia Tucker asked what the county’s fallback position is if the Appomattox project were to fall through.

Rodgers said if a transfer station doesn’t come to fruition in Appomattox County, the board could proceed with building its own station at the landfill, a 280-acre site, which has been estimated at $1.6 million, or construct one at the former landfill on Riverview Road.

Rodgers said if the county does eventually agree to haul waste to the potential Appomattox site, another option is to install infrastructure at the current landfill or the Riverview Road property that can be added onto later if a county transfer station is necessary.

Amherst County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jimmy Ayers said a point to consider is possible regulation restrictions the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality could place on transfer stations if the county has one built.

“What we put in the ground may not be something that would be accepted in five to 10 years from now,” Ayers said, later adding: “Waste management is something that needs to be taken care of, and it’s a costly business.”

A new private landfill facility approved for construction in Cumberland County also is a potential hauling site for Amherst County to consider using, consultant engineer Lynn Klappich of Draper Aden Associates has said.

County Attorney Michael Lockaby told supervisors he thinks it’s a great idea to hold off until County Waste has “its ducks in a row” in setting up a neighboring facility to Amherst County.

“It would be wise for us to wait,” Ayers said.