Talking trash

Commissioners consider adopting solid waste site ordinance

Published Thursday, May 1, 2008

By Brandon Evans

Commissioners Monday unanimously voted to pursue the passage of a solid waste site ordinance.

The county has no ordinance regarding the placement of a landfill. The creation of this ordinance would restrict where a developer could place a landfill.

"If someone comes in and wants to put in a landfill, this will only allow them to put it in certain areas," said public works director Tom Goode. "They won't be allowed to place it near rivers or flood plains or near subdivisions or airports."

"It gives folks a little more protection," said County Judge Bill McElhaney.

"Now you can put a landfill anywhere," Goode said.

Before the county adopts the landfill ordinance, a study must take place. The study, which will be funded by a grant from the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), analyzes current and future land use and considers public health, safety and welfare. It looks to exclude all areas within 10,000 feet of airports, along with flood plains, wetlands, creeks and rivers and residential areas.

Goode also suggested the county needs to eventually operate its own landfill.

"If the county could have its own landfill it would be a good thing," Goode said. "We spend $500,000 per year on tipping fees."

Tipping fees are charged by landfill operators to all dumpers. Most of the solid waste from Wise County goes to a landfill in Parker County.

"We will have to have one eventually," said Precinct 3 Commissioner Mikel Richardson. "We can't keep putting our trash in another county forever."

Master plan begins

The county started it's master study plan on Monday afternoon.

In March, commissioners authorized the county to enter a written contract with Wiginton, Hooker, Jeffry, PC, an architectural firm based in Plano to conduct the study.

For a cost of $97,400, plus additional expenses not to exceed $4,500, the firm will complete a plan "outlining the use of existing and proposed new facilities to best serve the citizens of Wise County through the year 2030."

The plan will take eight months to one year to complete.

"This is a very detailed process, but it will tell us everything we want to know," said County Judge Bill McElhaney. "It also may tell us some things we don't want to know."

The scope of the project covers four phases:

- work with all department heads and elected officials to determine needs and goals

- study population projections

- determine the best use of existing buildings and plan for future construction

- public presentation of recommendations and consider funding options, such as a bond election.

New confines for election administrator

Commissioners continue to seek an adequate location to house the elections administrator Lannie Noble and his two employees.

Ever since the position was created and filled, commissioners have looked for a better locations to house the office. So far, it has been located in the cramped confines of the basement of the County Clerk building.

Once the master study is completed, commissioners might choose to build a new facility for the office, but they are currently looking to lease some office space.

Noble presented three possible location to commissioners. One office space cost $5,000 per month, the second cost $3,500 per month and the third was $1,200.

Commissioners instructed Noble and the county judge to look further into the third option.

The office would be the home of the election administrator for at least two years. But commissioners were all in agreement that early voting should continue to be held at the Decatur Civic Center.

"The civic center is an excellent place for early voting," said Precinct 1 Commissioner Robert Rankin.

The sale of tax notes

After listening to a presentation by Leon Johnson of Southwest Securities, commissioners voted to sell $8.75 million of Wise County tax notes at an interest rate of 3.99 percent.

Johnson said the current tax rate is sufficient to cover all of the county's debt.