Greenville County leaders talk landfill, fire departments, and more
It was a quick but impactful county council meeting Tuesday in Greenville County.On the agenda was a bond request that would expand the twin chimney landfill, adding a 1.7 million square foot waste cell, with a $10 million price tag. “Every time trash goes to the dump, obviously, it starts to fill up a cell. So they’re trying to be forward-thinking and have another cell prepared and ready to go for when it does fill. So this was just the continuation of expanding landfill that, unfortunately, in a growing county like Greenville, we’re going to have more and more of,” says Greenville County Council Chairman, Benton Blount. The request passed second reading with District 27 Councilman Garey Collins as the lone vote against it. ” 12 miles down the road, and it could have done it for a lot less money. That’s my opinion now. I researched a lot of it and but as a committee and as a chair, and I was only one vote against it. But I still have a fiduciary responsibility to the people in my district,” he says. The council also considered approving a feasibility study focused on 20-plus fire departments within Greenville County, and the potential of consolidation. “We need to take a look at that and make sure we’re doing it efficiently. I’m not trying to get rid of people or get rid of departments or anything like that. But what I’m looking to do is have the most efficient fire force,” says District 21 Councilman Curt McGahhey. The motion passed with an 8-3 vote. “I felt like the study just felt a little more aggressive towards the fire districts, rather than, How can we help them? If we’d had time to discuss it and change it a little bit, I think we could have found a better way to conduct the study,” says Blount. Councilmembers also voted to approve a transfer of property to the Greenville Redevelopment Authority along Worley Road. “It sits close to some railroad tracks, which really isn’t the best environment for housing. But outside of that, you’re not going to find other uses for it. No commercial, no real green space opportunities. So we figured this was a good idea to try to help with the affordable housing issue,” says Blount. “We’re doing all the development, but no green space, no any opportunity. We get to preserve green space. We need to preserve green space, even if it’s just a place for the squirrels to run around. That’s green space,” said Collins.The council’s next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 21.
It was a quick but impactful county council meeting Tuesday in Greenville County.
On the agenda was a bond request that would expand the twin chimney landfill, adding a 1.7 million square foot waste cell, with a $10 million price tag.
“Every time trash goes to the dump, obviously, it starts to fill up a cell. So they’re trying to be forward-thinking and have another cell prepared and ready to go for when it does fill. So this was just the continuation of expanding landfill that, unfortunately, in a growing county like Greenville, we’re going to have more and more of,” says Greenville County Council Chairman, Benton Blount.
The request passed second reading with District 27 Councilman Garey Collins as the lone vote against it.
“[It could be ] 12 miles down the road, and it could have done it for a lot less money. That’s my opinion now. I researched a lot of it and but as a committee and as a chair, and I was only one vote against it. But I still have a fiduciary responsibility to the people in my district,” he says.
The council also considered approving a feasibility study focused on 20-plus fire departments within Greenville County, and the potential of consolidation.
“We need to take a look at that and make sure we’re doing it efficiently. I’m not trying to get rid of people or get rid of departments or anything like that. But what I’m looking to do is have the most efficient fire force,” says District 21 Councilman Curt McGahhey.
The motion passed with an 8-3 vote.
“I felt like the study just felt a little more aggressive towards the fire districts, rather than, How can we help them? If we’d had time to discuss it and change it a little bit, I think we could have found a better way to conduct the study,” says Blount.
Councilmembers also voted to approve a transfer of property to the Greenville Redevelopment Authority along Worley Road.
“It sits close to some railroad tracks, which really isn’t the best environment for housing. But outside of that, you’re not going to find other uses for it. No commercial, no real green space opportunities. So we figured this was a good idea to try to help with the affordable housing issue,” says Blount.
“We’re doing all the development, but no green space, no any opportunity. We get to preserve green space. We need to preserve green space, even if it’s just a place for the squirrels to run around. That’s green space,” said Collins.
The council’s next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 21.