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CSWD rep: land sale underway, Gardener's Supply owes about $75,000 and MRF redesign awaits Williston review
Summary
Mike Sullivan told the Essex Junction City Council that the Chittenden Solid Waste District plans to accept a local offer of about $700,000 for land on Flint Avenue, expects to write off roughly $75,000 owed by bankrupt Gardener's Supply, and is awaiting an Oct. 14 Williston DRB decision on a redesigned materials recycling facility.
Mike Sullivan, the Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) representative, updated the council on several operational and project developments, including a pending land sale, unpaid vendor debt, and delays on a materials recycling facility (MRF).
Sullivan said CSWD is in the process of selling land off Flint Avenue and "it looks like they're gonna get about 700 k for it, but they did have somebody make an offer of 800" before that higher bidder delayed. He described the choice as accepting a certain local offer rather than waiting for an uncertain higher bid. Sullivan added that CSWD purchased alternate land from Hinesburg Sand and Gravel after an earlier planned site was identified as a wetland.
On vendor debt, Sullivan told the council that Gardener's Supply — which recently entered bankruptcy — owes CSWD "to the tune of about $75,000," a balance CSWD does not expect to recover. He said the company continues to request product deliveries, which would increase the district's exposure if fulfilled without payment.
Sullivan described the long-running effort to establish a materials recycling facility (MRF). An earlier site was found to be wetland, and although CSWD bought different land from Hinesburg Sand and Gravel, the Williston development review board rejected the most recent design over wildlife-path concerns. "There has been a redesign — actually, they've turned the building 90 degrees" — Sullivan said — and CSWD awaits the Williston DRB meeting scheduled for Oct. 14.
Councilors pressed CSWD on local drop-off-center operations and recent hauler price increases. Sullivan said users may have seen higher bills — he cited a reported $5 monthly increase for one hauler — and attributed those changes primarily to higher tip fees at Coventry rather than modifications to Essex Junction or Williston drop-off centers. He also said CSWD has limited acceptance of roof shingles because processing those materials is costly at Coventry and, when accepted, shingles carry an additional charge.
Sullivan said CSWD will check whether more 24/7 leaf-drop or organics-processing capacity (like what's available at some Franklin County sites) could be provided, noting that specialized equipment at certain sites affects service capability and security.
The council thanked Sullivan for the update and said they would monitor the Oct. 14 Williston DRB decision on the MRF site and design.
