RISON - The Cleveland County Quorum Court approved a bid of $29,460 to build two bin covers at the Cleveland County Solid Waste Transfer Station at Rison to keep the facility in compliance with state regulations.
Meanwhile, Cleveland County Veterans Services officer Greg Herron told the quorum court that he would be retiring at the end of the year and recommended that his replacement, Jeff Howard of Rison, be brought on as a part-time worker to learn the job before he leaves.
County Judge Don Triplett told the court that the bid included both bin covers being built from red iron, with each measuring 25 feet by 11.5 feet. One set of legs holding up the canopy would be 21 feet high to allow trucks enough room to roll off the bins beneath the canopies.
The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) informed the county that it needed to cover the roll-off bins at the transfer station to stay in compliance with its regulations. It was informed about the need for the covers last year.
While there are no specific laws requiring open bins to be covered, ADEQ can require covers if an open bin allows trash to blow away, attracts birds or rodents, creates odors, accumulates rainwater and leachate, or otherwise becomes a nuisance. The accumulation of rainwater is one of the issues that has been mentioned about the open bins at the transfer station.
The late County Judge Jimmy Dale Adair bought some covers last year to satisfy ADEQ’s request, but a committee made up of Triplett and some of the justices of the peace found that those covers were not strong enough to hold up over time.
Justice Donnie Herring, who made the motion to proceed with the bid for the covers, said the county needs to take action now rather than risk having the transfer station’s permit suspended. His motion was approved without opposition. Justices Dwayne Ashcraft and Jeffrey Smith were not in attendance.
The money to pay for the covers will be coming from the solid waste budget.
Herrin Retiring
Herron inf…