“Garbage juice.”
Now that your attention has been captured – the description of what “leachate” is, is provided courtesy of Commissioner Larry Thomson.
Houston County is about to alter the way it deals with leachate ... “garbage juice.”
The commissioners voted Tuesday during their regular meeting to award a contract in the amount of $96,787.90 to CBP for equipment necessary to re- circulate the leachate back through garbage at the landfill.
Explained commission Chairman Ned Sanders: “Garbage deposited in a landfill has an impermeable liner in the bottom of it.
“Once trash is compacted, those liquids seep out and go to a low point where they’re collected and go into a leachate tank. “In the past that leachate has been taken to a sanitary treatment facility where it has been treated along with other liquids in a sanitary system and once it reaches a certain level of cleanliness, it’s released into a stream ... usually. Or, it could be applied in some form of a land application.” What will change further explained county Director of Operations Tommy Stalnaker, who added that the majority of the leachate comes from storm water – not liquids being brought to the landfill – is that “some” of the leachate will still be recycled the way Sanders described.
The rest, he said – perhaps the majority – will now be re-circulated back through.
“Which,” he said, “will help the garbage further break down which is going to generate more methane gas which in turn we’re fixing to start capturing and utilizing for an energy source.”
In addition to garbage in the landfill, the commissioners took care of any potential trash being taken off the streets by approving a jail expansion. The contract was awarded to JMA and HDR (out of Dallas), which, according to County Attorney Mike Hall, saved the county money – by not having to start from scratch in terms of design. Plus, he added, this ensures the work will be similar in appearance, construction and function to the existing facility. The “scope of work” calls for two “pods” to be added – a total of 160 beds, explained Thomson.
The site will be modified, the scope of work reads, to allow for the placement of the building, the connection of the building to on site utilities, and to expand the storm water facilities currently serving the complex. Added by Sanders was this: “Inmate space for those suffering from mental problems as a result of medical diagnosis will be a part of the scope of this work.”
“It’s a part of discussion but not part of the scope of work,” he explained. “It will call for some changes to the original design.
“The sheriff wants it,” he explained, “and he has a good reason for wanting it and it’s justifiable and that will require some changes to the existing design. “In other words there will be some modifications needed. I don’t’ want that to come back and haunt us by being pressed with an additional fee.”
April 2009 is the start time for the project with August-September 2010 being its finish.
Other items the commission approved included:
- A Homeland Security grant for $100,000. The money will be used to buy cots and blankets, explained Commissioner Gail Robinson. Elaborated Fire Chief Jimmy Williams: The money will be used to purchase 2,200 cots (it could be used to buy blankets as well). They in turn will be stored in the 48- foot trailers – the EMA building – owned by the state, he said.
- Releasing the performance bond in Section 1, Harley Estates based on the fact sewer has been completed there in according with “The Comprehensive Land Development Regulations for Houston County.
- Abandonment of Easement/Right-of-Way for the cul-de-sac known as Etowah Ct., off Chattahoochee Dr. The reason for the request was the redesign of a storm drain system made the original easement unnecessary.
