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No decision yet on Wilco landfill

August 29, 2007

News 8 Austin
Chelsea Hover

Williamson County Commissioners have once again delayed a vote on a new operating contract for the county landfill after the idea was tabled at Tuesday night’s meeting. Many who live near the landfill in Hutto have urged commissioners to vote against the new contract. It’s a renegotiated version of one in 2003 with Waste Management of Texas.

Officials admit the old contract was a “bad deal” for the county. It gave just seven percent of the revenue from the landfill to the county; the new contract would increase that up to 13 percent.

The standing-room-only crowd was littered with signs begging for “a better landfill.” Active citizens and environmental groups have played a vital role in making sure the county knows its options.

But confusion over the permit and the lengthy 40-year commitment caused commissioners to debate before tabling the issue Tuesday night, which will give the county more time to explore its options.

“Stopping the vote today was a critical step in getting a better deal for the residents of Williamson County,” Robin Schneider of the Texas Campaign for the Environment said.

“I really see a ray of hope in the motion today, to try to clean up the names on the permit and clean up the contract,” Hutto Citizens Group Landfill Committee Chairman Jeff Maurice said.

For Waste Management, the decision came as a surprise.

“We were disappointed. We spent a year and a half to get to a point where we’re in suspended animation again,” Waste Management Landfill Manager Steve Jacobs said.

“It’s important to keep the pressure on Williamson County Commissioners because I’m sure this will come up again, and we want to make sure what comes up in the future is much much better than what came up today,” Schneider said.

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