"Kicking the Can Down the Road!"

Is the present City of Huntington administration and the Huntington City Council failing to keep our citizens fully informed on the closure of the Deitz Hollow Landfill, or are they "kicking the can down the road" to let another mayor and council worry about this major issue that will affect all future citizens of our city?

The court ordered closure of the Deitz Hollow landfill, which is located in Guyandotte, must be completed by 2017. But the recent cost estimate of $9 million, money the City of Huntington does not have, is obviously going to go up with each passing year. The landfill stopped accepting garbage in 1993, but the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection ordered that several closure steps had to be taken to ensure that water and contaminants do not damage adjacent soil and streams.

The citizens of the city of Huntington and Cabell County should be provided with an on-going status report on each shut-down-step leading to the final closure. In addition, the public should be kept abreast of all attempts to locate funding. Our leaders should understand that a well-informed citizenry is much more supportive of the efforts of our governments' leaders when it comes time to make hard decisions that may negatively affect taxpayers.

Obviously, the costs will keep increasing the longer it takes to close Deitz Hollow by the 2017 deadline. Are we witnessing the "can being kicked down the road"? Let's let the folks who are still around in 2017 worry about it?

Just tell us what is going on, Mr. Mayor. We want to know all about the Landfill Closure Assistance Program (LCAP). On October 18, 1991, the West Virginia Legislature passed Senate Bill 18. The LCAP was established by Section 22-16-3(a) of the West Virginia State Code. LCAP is governed by State Rule 33CSR40. The program is funded by special revenue deposited in the "Closure Cost Assistance Fund" in a total amount of $3.50 per ton imposed upon the disposal of solid waste at any solid waste disposal facility in this state. This fee is authorized by Section 22-16-4(a) of the WV Code.

Don't kick the can down the road, Mr. Mayor! Be responsible enough to at least let our citizens know what is going on! Where have you sought funding? When did you seek funding? What was the outcome? What next? Just communicate with us!

Mayor Felinton, you may not live here in 2017, but many of us will! You, as our elected chief executive, have the responsibility to manage our affairs and to keep us abreast of your efforts on our behalf! We can handle the truth - if we know what it is!