Tuesday, April 28, 1998
Landfill owes $30,000 in monthly fees
By Vicki Hunker
Staff Writer
Legal action could be pending if San-Lan Landfill near Fostoria doesn't pay $30,000 in back fees to the Ottawa-Sandusky-Seneca Solid Waste Management District.
Tim Berlekamp, the district's executive director, told the policy board Monday that the board of directors sent a letter in March requesting payment and threatening legal action.
He said San-Lan hasn't paid its monthly fee since November, which means the landfill is nearly five months behind.
Berlekamp said he toured the landfill last week with a representative of the Seneca County Health Department. He said only one employee is operating the landfill.
''It's a facility that financially is in trouble. That's what it is,'' Berlekamp said.
Ken Rieman, Wood County solid waste coordinator, said San-Lan is a regional problem.
''That landfill isn't just affecting you,'' he said. ''It's affecting others.''
He said the management is charging low prices to ''undercut'' competing landfills and not paying its bills.
''It's like a tax that's not being paid,'' Rieman said.
Policy board chairman Ken Kerik said the questions of environmental compliance, the ability to operate with only one employee and other matters should be checked.
He said litigation is a possibility.
''But I certainly don't want the district to spend $50,000 to get $30,000,'' he said.
Fostoria Mayor Jim Bailey said he hopes the district will do what it can to keep the landfill in operation because people in his area depend on it.
The decision on whether or not to take legal action must be made by the district board of directors, which is comprised of the three county commissioners from each county.