City may abandon waste plans

City may abandon waste plans



MARCIA LANE
marcia.lane@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 01/11/08


St. Augustine City Commissioner Errol Jones says he'll push fellow commissioners to spend the extra money not to return landfill waste material to Riberia Street.

"I've heard enough," Jones said, striding to the front of St. Paul A.M.E. Church on Thursday evening after listening to more than two hours of presentations, discussion and protests.

He told the full house he would make a motion to spend the money that would take the material to a landfill.

That plan could cost about $2.2 million. Returning the material to Riberia would cost an estimated $800,000 and was the option the city was pursuing.

Jones's announcement drew a standing ovation and applause from the roomful of Lincolnville residents and supporters. Many had expressed concerns about the contents of the landfill material and the possible negative effects it would have on current and future generations.

Activist Ed Slavin called it a great victory "for the environment and for civil rights."

Lincolnville traditionally has been black and poor, although in recent years an influx of whites and richer individuals has driven up land prices and begun changing the character of the area.

The issue began when the city removed the dirt from an inactive landfill along the San Sebastian River to regrow the marsh and redevelop wetlands. The contaminated dirt was dumped in a borrow pit on North Holmes Boulevard

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection fined the city $33,698. The city agreed to clean the pit and put the dirt back on the Riberia site.

Consultants with the project say, even if the city decides to go the landfill route, the city will still have to come up with a solution for the Riberia site, which includes about eight acres.

One resident told city officials Thusday that he'd heard nothing but excuses and said residents were putting up with "taxation with little representation."

Thursday's session was billed as an educational meeting. Moderated by the city's John Regan, the meeting gave the public a chance to ask questions about the landfill plan. Most aired complaints and raised questions about the city's decision.

Regan said the meeting was intended to gain additional input and could lead to commissioners changing their plans.


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