Putnam Commissioners Approve Purchase Of 21 Acres Adjacent To Landfill

Putnam County Commissioners voted 17-4 Monday night to purchase two parcels of land adjoining the current county landfill.

County Mayor Randy Porter said the $280,000 purchase will extend the life of the landfill some 20 years.

“I don’t think any of us want to go looking for a new place for a landfill so this is a good deal for the county,” Porter said. “Allows us to keep it in the same location it’s been since back in the 80s. I did an engineer’s appraisal on the property and they agreed it was well worth this amount of money.”

The current landfill covers some 200 acres. It will be full in seven to eight years without the proposed purchase. Porter said the tornado filled an entire cell with the debris.

“In my mind, the engineer’s mind, it’s a good deal for the county,” Porter said.

The new acreage, which Porter has an option on, is flat land which will allow it to be used for the landfill. The parcel includes some 21.77 acres. Porter said engineers dug several holes in the last month to make sure the property would work for the landfill.

Commissioner Grover Bennett said the county’s growth should also be factored in the decision to purchase the land.