Nelson supervisors will evaluate expanding Schuyler waste site

By Erin McGrath

Published: August 29, 2008

Schuyler is still a possible site for the county’s next solid waste collection center.

Nelson County staffers have contacted Saunders’ Surveys Inc. of Roseland to conduct a preliminary study of the Schuyler collection site on Va. 617 to evaluate the suitability of that spot for a manned trash site.

“County staff are gathering information on the property to provide to the company, which is expected to being work this week,” County Administrator Steve Carter said in an e-mail Tuesday.

Saunders’ Surveys, Inc. will present a preliminary report to the Nelson County Board of Supervisors at their Sept. 9 meeting, Carter said.

Supervisors voted 4-1 at their Aug. 28 meeting to authorize county staff to obtain professional services to evaluate the Schuyler site. The cost of the evaluation is not to exceed $10,000.

North District Supervisor Thomas Harvey voted against the site evaluation. He said he opposed the Schuyler site because it is outside the five-mile radius supervisors were considering and is not on the original plan for such collection centers.

The move to evaluate the site came after supervisors held an Aug. 19 town hall meeting in Faber. More than 50 residents from Faber and Schuyler attended to voice opinions.

Supervisors are also continuing to search for other available sites. They will attend a meeting of the Cove Valley Recreation Center organization on Sept. 4, to make a formal presentation to the group and discuss the possibility of acquiring property from the organization for a trash site along Cove Valley Lane in Faber.

“It’s just going to be impossible to find the right, exact, perfect spot,” Central District Supervisor Connie Brennan said. “If other properties come forward, we will look at them.”

South District Supervisor Joe Dan Johnson said the county has searched for three years for suitable property in that area.

“If the piece of property in Schuyler is not suitable, we have a safety issue,” Johnson said.

East District Supervisor Allen Hale said people will have to drive to any site the county picks for the trash site and that the county needs to move ahead with the project.

“It’s just time to go ahead with it,” Hale said.