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STEUBENVILLE -- The Jefferson County Board of Health questioned representatives from Interstate Waste Services regarding continued odor complaints being received from areas around IWS's 288-acre Apex Landfill in Amsterdam.
At the board's monthly meeting on Tuesday, three representatives of IWS were given a list of questions, including how landfills are made and how IWS responds to odor complaints. Health Commissioner Andrew Henry said the representatives were asked to attend because the board had "consistently seen odor complaints" from the Amsterdam landfill.
Bryan Largent, IWS landfill engineer, said the Apex facility features leachate and gas collection systems.
David Cieply, executive president of landfill operations for IWS, said the landfill is allowed to take in 10,000 tons of municipal solid waste per day, but can exceed that with other types of waste, such as construction and demolition debris.
Cieply said that the landfill receives about 80 railway cars daily, delivering about 6,400 tons of waste, which they take care of immediately.
"We are always cognizant of the fact we want minimal time (for waste) cooking in the containers," Cieply said.
Cieply said IWS is looking into expanding their system to take care of waste more effectively, including using food-based chemicals to neutralize odors.
Luke Farinaro of IWS explained how the company responds to odor complaints. He said there is a hotline individuals can call and describe their situation. An odor technician, one of whom is available 24/7, investigates, validates and follows up on the complaint as soon as they receive it.
Cieply said the odor technicians are required to take additional monitoring trips when they are not actively investigating.
"There's no time during a given day that we're not on it to make sure it's handled in the most professional -- certainly the best -- format we can," Cieply said.
Dr. Patrick Macedonia, board president, said the landfill's change in ownership in 2020 has brought good effects, but the issue of odor is still prevalent. He said people are submitting fewer complaints because they know nothing will be done about it.
"We can't take the landfill away from the area," Macedonia said. "I think you're doing a great job (with) all the technology you're putting in place, but to people living out there, (odors are) their concern."
Macedonia said that people may have originally moved to Amsterdam for country living, but the odors have changed life for them. He mentioned one complaint where those involved were attempting to have a picnic but could not because of an odor.
Macedonia said the odor issue does not seem to have priority with them. He read a complaint reporting form from IWS, where the office said it "made note of" an odor, which he said is not satisfactory to address the problem.
Contesting Macedonia's claim of there being a lack of priority, Cieply said, "When they say they make note of it, that's only part of it. ... We're immediately on the chain of command."
When asked by Macedonia how many complaints per year is too many, Cieply said, "One validated (complaint) is one too many."
Macedonia said, "The odors are still coming, and I understand that's the nature of the business, but on the other hand, I also respect those people who live out there."
In other business, the board renewed contracts with Noble County epidemiology services; with Primary Solutions Software; and with Steubenville Plumbing; and for Jefferson County Juvenile Court nursing coverage. The board approved three new memorandums of understanding: Optimizing HEALing in Ohio Communities, the Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board and CHANGE Inc.
The board adopted a mobile and temporary food program application submission time policy, which, Henry said, requires an application for a license to be submitted no later than five days before the event, according to state regulation.
A purchase order for $6,170 for tech support and a software license from Primary Solutions was approved.
In his health commissioner's report, Henry clarified that a meeting in May, organized by the attorney general's office and reported on, was not a "secret meeting" but rather a proposal that was not meant to hide any information.
Dr. Jane Culp reported the nursing staff is present and offering services at the Toronto Clinic at 416 Clark St. every Monday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Nursing Director Hannah Piko's report indicated, among other items, that nurses will be handing out sunscreen and sunhats at local pools.
WIC Director Stephanie Chester's report said planning is under way for Breastfeeding Awareness Month, which will include a community resource fair, for August.
The department's 2022 audit results were made available, Henry said, and the results have been very good. Kelly Wilson, director of finance, said the 2023 audit will be a single audit because it will expend more than $750,000 in federal funds.
The board approved a proposal to give a $2,500 stipend to SVRTA for housing and maintaining a health department vehicle. The funds, Wilson said, will come from the Public Health Emergency Preparedness cooperative agreement.
Board members Terry Bell and Anthony Mougianis were absent from the meeting. The board's next meeting will be at 8:15 a.m. on July 18.