The state has given Columbus Light & Water permission to forego $15 million in facility upgrades that would have increased the city”s sludge output.
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality sent CL&W an Oct. 22 letter, which said the state would begin monitoring the utility”s discharge into fresh water over the next two to five years.
The upgrades, which would have affected the water filtration process, are unnecessary for CL&W since the utility already meets MDEQ requirements, said Rep. Jeff Smith, D-Columbus, who also serves as the attorney for CL&W.
The board had earlier asked for a memorandum of understanding, which would have been more legally binding.
At its meeting Thursday, the board voted to employ Balch & Bingham law firm, which specializes in environmental law, as a precaution.
CL&W Chairman Jabari O. Edwards had earlier said the possibility of MDEQ upgrades was another reason to move quickly on a $965,000 land deal.
The deal with McArthur Properties LLC, owned by local developer Russell Sheffield, would give CL&W 118.8 acres along Nashville Ferry Road near Shady Lane for sludge disposal.
With the threat of extra sludge gone, the city has an estimated 20 years or so before sludge in its three wastewater lagoons reaches capacity, thanks to a $400,000 project that raised lagoon levees.
“We”re still operating under the premise that we don”t know what the future holds,” Edwards said.
Before the deal is finalized, Sheffield must receive a solid waste land application permit from MDEQ.
Before going before the MDEQ board, he has to receive approval from the Golden Triangle Regional Solid Waste Management Authority board to change the regional waste plan.
The Authority requires him to receive approval from the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors before coming before its board.
The controversial land deal has drawn scrutiny to several board members” recent business deals and relationships with local developers.
David C. Shelton has recently been in business with Sheffield, whose competition in the bid process is Ronnie West, of West Brothers Construction.
West has close ties to board members Tom Sneed, his employee, and Jimmy Graham, his business partner.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
