The city’s landfill on Rock Hill Road officially reopened last Friday, much to the approval of city officials and residents.
Vice Mayor and Ward 6 Alderman Roy A’. Perkins had some choice words in March concerning the closure of the landfill, and told the SDN on Tuesday that it never should have closed.
“This is certainly a great moment to see it is back in use again,” he said. “Residents have had to travel to Clay County.”
The landfill was temporary closed for an expansion project in September 2016. In the interim, residents and services brought household garbage to the Golden Triangle Landfill in West Point.
Emma Gandy, director of Sanitation and Environmental Services with the city of Starkville, told the SDN on Tuesday her department had been waiting on approval from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality before reopening the landfill.
“We are just back to regular business and regular operations are underway,” she said.
Perkins and Ward 7 Alderman Henry Vaughn, Sr., opposed Gandy’s request for lease purchase of four new sanitation trucks in March, citing the landfill as a higher priority for city funds.
The measure was ultimately approved 5-2, with the price of the four trucks set at $103,228 in total.
Despite reopening last week, Perkins was still critical of leadership regarding the landfill.
“We just need to ensure that the proper management and attention is given to the landfill operation,” he said. “If the proper leadership, management and supervision is given to the landfill, then it should never be closed again. If it had been properly managed, then it my opinion it would not have been closed.”