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Commissioners suspend incinerator plans
Originally published April 28, 2009
By Meg Tully
News-Post Staff
The Frederick County Commissioners are suspending the bid process for building a new trash incinerator.
The commissioners voted 4-1 today to suspend bidding and instead explore other disposal options, including expanding the landfill or burning Frederick County's trash at an existing incinerator outside the county.
Only Commissioner John L. Thompson Jr. voted against the suspension.
The commissioners have considered building an incinerator, also known as waste-to-energy because it would create electricity, for more than two years.
Calling the issue divisive and citing concerns about public opposition, Commissioners Charles Jenkins and Jan Gardner said that they were not prepared to go forward with a contract to build an incinerator.
"We need results, not lawsuits," Jenkins said. "Fortunately, I think we have other options that do not include building our own waste-to-energy facility."
Jenkins was also concerned about the cost, saying it could be upwards of $600 million. Gardner objected to the proposed location, because of its proximity to the Monocacy National Battlefield and small size.
A motion to proceed with the contract and add requirements to make it less visually intrusive was defeated 3-2, with only commissioners Thompson and David Gray in favor.
Thompson said he suspects the vote will end his political career.
Gray later voted in favor of suspending the process, and said he did so because it would not completely close the door on the plan.
He hopes the commissioners will consider waste-to-energy again.
"I don't want to leave a mess for the next set of commissioners," Gray said. "We've had enough time to make a decision and to be decisive and show leadership."
For more, read tomorrow's edition of The Frederick News-Post.
Drew A. Gruber
Originally published April 28, 2009
By Meg Tully
News-Post Staff
The Frederick County Commissioners are suspending the bid process for building a new trash incinerator.
The commissioners voted 4-1 today to suspend bidding and instead explore other disposal options, including expanding the landfill or burning Frederick County's trash at an existing incinerator outside the county.
Only Commissioner John L. Thompson Jr. voted against the suspension.
The commissioners have considered building an incinerator, also known as waste-to-energy because it would create electricity, for more than two years.
Calling the issue divisive and citing concerns about public opposition, Commissioners Charles Jenkins and Jan Gardner said that they were not prepared to go forward with a contract to build an incinerator.
"We need results, not lawsuits," Jenkins said. "Fortunately, I think we have other options that do not include building our own waste-to-energy facility."
Jenkins was also concerned about the cost, saying it could be upwards of $600 million. Gardner objected to the proposed location, because of its proximity to the Monocacy National Battlefield and small size.
A motion to proceed with the contract and add requirements to make it less visually intrusive was defeated 3-2, with only commissioners Thompson and David Gray in favor.
Thompson said he suspects the vote will end his political career.
Gray later voted in favor of suspending the process, and said he did so because it would not completely close the door on the plan.
He hopes the commissioners will consider waste-to-energy again.
"I don't want to leave a mess for the next set of commissioners," Gray said. "We've had enough time to make a decision and to be decisive and show leadership."
For more, read tomorrow's edition of The Frederick News-Post.
Drew A. Gruber