By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



Gardendale’s former mayor said this week that he’s not to blame for a local landfill taking in garbage from outside Jefferson County.

In a story published in Wednesday’s edition of The North Jefferson News, Mt. Olive resident Tony Cousins spoke out against Kenny Clemons and Gardendale businessman Aaron Box for supporting Santek at last April’s commission meeting on the landfill.

On Thursday, Box said he didn’t have any comment on statements made by Cousins.

On Feb. 11, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management approved a permit change that would allow Jefferson County Landfill No. 1 to accept garbage from Blount, Bibb, Shelby, St. Clair, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties.

Santek has also applied for a permit change that would free up 100 additional acres of land at the site for garbage.

Clemons said Thursday that his decision to speak to the Jefferson County Commission last April didn’t reflect his support to bring in additional garbage, but rather support for Santek Environmental, Inc.

“Santek has been a big supporter of events in Gardendale,” Clemons said. “They gave to the Rotary (Club) golf tournament and they are a business located close to our city.”

Clemons said he also spoke at the meeting on behalf of the citizens of Gardendale and not Mt. Olive. He said Santek’s decision to allow garbage from eight surrounding counties and municipalities would keep the landfill competitive and keep prices lower for Gardendale residents.

He said if prices increased at the Mt. Olive landfill or it was forced to shut down, the city’s residents would have to use the landfill in Adamsville, which would add fuel costs on top of dumping costs.

“I’m not for or against the landfill. We have one of the cheapest sanitation pick-up rates in the county, he said. “I just don’t want the rates to go as high as they could go.”