Smithville grants conditional-use permit to Northland Recycle and Transfer for transfer station

The Smithville Board of Aldermen voted 5-1 to approve a conditional-use permit for Northland Recycle and Transfer to operate a municipal solid waste transfer station at 1400820 North Industrial Drive.

The permit, carried on a motion by Alderman Laura Atkins and read into the record as bill number 3060-25, allows the company to run a transfer-station operation subject to the city’s zoning ordinance and the conditions described in the permit and presentation. Alderman Wilson cast the lone no vote; Aldermen Russell, Hartman, Kabilski and Shipley voted yes.

David, an applicant representing Northland Recycle and Transfer, told the board the operation is subject to state inspections for air and water and described steps the company is taking to reduce off-site impacts. “We’re spending an extra $30,000 to put a drain system in so it can go out to those tanks,” he said, describing new holding tanks and testing the company will use to keep runoff out of storm systems. He also said inspectors check noise, dust, perimeter cleanup and employee safety when they visit facilities.

David detailed operational controls the company uses inside the building—grading on the floor, drains to holding tanks and daily cleaning and sweeping—and said the company has already had a state inspection that went well. He said the facility will segregate items that don’t break down, such as tires, and remove them to separate containers for disposal. “They come in. They start setting things up. And then on the Sunday, they cleaned it up,” he said of visiting carnival vendors’ practices, speaking later about LakeFest; his transfer-station remarks focused on state oversight and site controls.

Aldermen thanked the applicants for the information and professionalism. There was no extended debate recorded on the permit terms; the board moved directly to roll-call votes after a brief question-and-answer exchange and expressions of appreciation for the presentation.

The ordinance was read on the record after the roll call; the clerk initially misstated the tally and then corrected it to 5-1. The ordinance text read into the minutes amends the city zoning ordinance to grant the conditional-use permit to Northland Recycle and Transfer for a municipal solid waste transfer station at the address given on the agenda.

The board did not record additional conditions beyond those in the permit language and applicable city zoning rules during the meeting. The applicants offered to work with city staff and inspectors and welcomed city inspections.

For now, the permit stands as approved by the aldermen; any subsequent modifications, inspections or enforcement actions will follow the city zoning code and state environmental regulations as applicable.