BY MICHAEL D. CLARK
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEBANON -- For the third consecutive week, Warren County zoning officials will hold a public meeting on whether to recommend a new landfill. Though tonight's meeting is the third in a row concerning a proposed landfill next to the Bigfoot Run waste site in Union Township, it should be shorter than the other two.
Zoning commissioners are scheduled only to vote, not to hear further testimony from supporters and opponents.
Previous meetings were marked by lengthy and sometimes pointed debate on the merits of the proposed Bigfoot II landfill, which would be operated by the owners of Bigfoot Run -- Browning-Ferris Industries of Ohio Inc. (BFI).
Rob Dolder, BFI's district vice president, said he appreciates the five-member zoning commission taking extra time to study the numerous submissions of data from both BFI and opponents.
"That's the right thing to do. They have had a lot of material presented to them," said Mr. Dolder. "Warren County needs Bigfoot II."
Warren County, the second-fastest growing among Ohio's 88 counties, has only the one landfill.
Bigfoot Run will reach capacity and close in May; and BFI contends that sending solid waste out of Warren County would be too costly to residents and leave them open to price-gouging by other waste-disposal companies.
It's rare when Mr. Dolder and Warren Reed -- president of the Morrow Environmental Preservation Association (MEPA), the opposition group fighting Bigfoot II -- agree. But the zoning commission's three-week review and deliberation has been warranted, said Mr. Reed.
"We don't want a snap decision. We want an educated decision," he said.
Today's 7:30 p.m. meeting will be held at the Warren County commissioners office at 320 E. Silver St. in Lebanon.
Despite the expectation of its being only a voting session, dozens of landfill opponents are expected to attend.
The zoning commission's recommendation is not binding on the county commissioners, who will cast the deciding vote on the landfill proposal within 60 days.
If the landfill is approved by county commissioners, BFI officials then have to apply for a zoning application and submit a site plan, both of which must be reviewed and approved by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
If BFI wins both county and state approval, the Bigfoot II landfill could be up and running next summer.
