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Residents press commissioners over landfill odors and water-monitoring concerns; county schedules site visits and collects records
Summary
During public forum, multiple residents described persistent odors and alleged water-quality problems at the Heart of Florida Landfill; county staff said the site is under a consent order, third-party monitoring is ongoing, a joint site visit is planned, and staff has prepared pre-suit materials and public-records requests to scope complaints.
Several Sumter County residents used the public-forum portion of the March 10 meeting to press the board over persistent odors and water concerns they attribute to the Heart of Florida Landfill.
"We already know there have been violations and notices of noncompliance, including confirmed odors outside the boundary on May 9 and July 1," resident Lehi Strickland told the board and asked the county to pause any expansion until odor problems are resolved. She cited a Tetra Tech monitoring report and said some monitoring results show benzene exceedances over multiple years.
Lori Taylor, another resident, urged the county to consider additional monitoring at county-owned facilities near the landfill and to evaluate how permitting might be made stricter. "Be very careful as you look at their permitting," she said, noting the proximity of a main well for Lake Penn Water to the landfill.
County Administrator Arnold said the Heart of Florida Landfill is operating under a consent order and that the county's third-party reviewers examine FDEP reports and monitor compliance. "At this time, I don't anticipate based on what they're showing that that's going to be an issue from DEP," Arnold said while adding that DEP has sole regulatory authority over potential impacts to state waters.
Arnold said the county had coordinated with the City of Bushnell for a site visit so commissioners and a city council member can see operations and ask questions; he emphasized the county delayed any pre-suit notice until after commissioners could tour the site and gather first-hand observations. The county attorney said staff has submitted public-records requests and will use the records to scope the pre-suit letter if litigation proceeds.
The board did not take immediate enforcement action at the meeting; staff will continue to review monitoring data, coordinate with DEP and schedule the joint site visit for commissioners and city officials.
