Rainfall overwhelmed the Mason County landfill last month, causing a breech in a holding pond that ultimately led to leachate leaking into a stream.
On Tuesday, Mason County Commissioners approved emergency status for the event, to better deal with the on-going clean-up involved, officials said.
The heavy rainfall, which fell over a two-three day period in early September and was estimated at 10 inches, caused the leachate from the household portion waste portion of the landfill to spill into a sediment pond and finally, a small amount overflowed into a nearly unnamed stream, officials said. A bladder used to contain the leak did not hold.
The county reported the incident to state Division of Water immediately and remedial work began. Following recommendations from the state following an inspection by the DOW, the county is now working on the clean-up from the spill, Landfill Manager Todd Leonard said.
A pump is being operated to empty the pond so the breech can be repaired, Judge-Executive Joe Pfeffer said.
“We are taking collective measures” to resolve the issue, he said. Some of the overflow was trucked from the site, he said.
The emergency was declared under state statute, Assistant County Attorney Jackie Shadoan said.
On a more positive note, Leonard said the project to connect the landfill with Maysville’s waste water treatment plant has been completed with a balance of $350,000 in the bank. With the city as the primary party on the project’s financing, how to spend those funds will likely be left up the landfill committee, Pfeffer said.
Also concerning the landfill, Leonard received approval to change carriers for the landfill operation’s GPS service that will reduce costs from $34 per month per vehicle to $15,95 per month per vehicle. Commissioners gave the move the go-ahead.
Sheriff Patrick Boggs reported bids for three news cruisers came in at $21,530 per cruiser, for a total of $64,590. The bid was awarded to Mann Chrysler. Whether the county will purchase the vehicles outright or enter into a lease/purchase agreement will be determined after options are examined.
Commissioners agreed to a resolution supporting an application to the federal government for Mason County to become an Appalachian Regional Commission County following a presentation from Amy Kennedy, executive director of BTADD.
Pfeffer said there is no downside to the designation and lots of advantages including grants eligibility.
“There is no reason not to pursue this,” Pfeffer said.
Maysville City Commissioners approved the first reading of a similar measure last month.
In other business, commissioners:
— Approved reports from county offices including sheriff, detention center, roads, animal shelter, landfill, recycling center and solid waste.
— On a recommendation from Jailer Lisa Kern-Yeary, approved a bid from Tek84 for a body scanner for the detention center at a cost of $149,000 to be paid from the commissary fund.
— Approved a resolution asking the state to designate a bridge on U.S. 68 over the North Fork of the Licking River near May’s Lick after the late County Judge-Executive Billy F. Ross.
— Heard a proclamation named October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
— Approved a grant application for roof work on the Charles T. Young cabin.
— Learned the project to repair the Mason County Justice Center has been completed and closed out.
