Environmentalists brought photos of the landfill and a list of demands to the county commissioners’ meeting on April 5.
Protesters from Pee Dee Water, Air, Land and Lives held up enlarged photos they said showed violations at the Anson County Landfill in Polkton.
When commissioners asked when the photos were taken, Pee Dee WALL member Denise Lee said the time stamps on the photos were inaccurate and that the photos were taken in 2014 or 2015 by Sam Dawkins, the former county landfill inspector.
The photos purportedly show garbage and leachate spilled in the landfill.
“This landfill is a mess, and yet our county commissioners have not agreed to sign the resolution opposing the coal ash coming into this landfill, even though this landfill is already in the shape it’s in,” Lee said. “We’ve got pictures of stuff contaminating waters and stuff going toward Brown Creek, which drains into the Pee Dee River right above our intake.”
Lee said commissioners had seen the photos before, but had still refused to bar coal ash from the landfill and did not notify the state of violations.
“Look at this, people,” Lee said. “We were promised, when this landfill went in, we were told that the county would have a site inspector. We had an inspector that was doing this job. The answer to this problem was, you did away with his position. This county is not doing what you promised you would do for these citizens when this landfill came.”
Pee Dee WALL warned the commissioners about the landfill in 2013 when the landfill requested and received permission from the county to increase its daily tonnage intake, Lee said.
“What did these county commissioners do knowing these pictures existed?” Lee said. “You gave them that increase. Shame on you.”
Lee said the age of the photos is unimportant, and that the commissioners should focus on the content. She also said that the landfill needs more diligent monitoring.
Cary Rodgers also approached the commissioners, asking the board for an update on whether it will approve a resolution that Pee Dee WALL presented to the board earlier this year. The proposed resolution would state the county’s opposition to receiving coal ash.
Rodgers also asked commissioners to appoint new members to the citizens’ advisory board.
He said the landfill is already contaminating the county’s water.
COMMISSIONERS’ RESPONSE
At least one county commissioner said he was opposed to the county allowing coal ash to come to the landfill.
“I’m against coal ash,” Jim Sims said. “I always have been.” He said he plans to review the proposed resolution and wants to pass a measure against coal ash.
Commissioner Bobby Sikes said a representative needed to inspect the landfill.
“We should send someone over to walk out and check the area,” Sikes proposed.
“Why don’t we all go?” board Chairwoman Anna Baucom said.
Commissioner Ross Streater said the landfill was cleaned up when he visited it and that there was then no need to report to the state.
Commissioner Vancine Sturdivant went on a tour of the landfill the day after the commissioners’ meeting.
“We had a lady come before the commissioners on Tuesday night and stated we were getting paid to turn our head and allow the trash dump in Polkton do anything,” Sturdivant said via email following the tour. “This is not true and I want our citizens to know this. I met with the director and toured the entire facilities the very next day. The reason for me doing this is because Anson County is a great place to live, we are trying to get businesses to come. We do not need this type of negative information going around when it is not true.”
Although she has seen minutes from the citizens’ advisory board, Baucom said she has not seen any recently. The commissioners said they would look into the advisory board.
Baucom said commissioners will discuss the resolution during their retreat, which will begin at 8:30 a.m. April 23.
Reach reporter Imari Scarbrough at 704-994-5471 and follow her on Twitter @ImariScarbrough.
