Kimble complaint may be dropped

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by Eric Marotta

News Leader Editor

Macedonia, Twinsburg and Twinsburg Township are ready to drop their objection to a permit allowing Kimble Transfer and Recycling Inc. to operate a waste facility on Chamberlin Road in Twinsburg Township.

"I'm glad we can put this behind us," said Twinsburg Township Trustee Carol Gasper.

Kimble officials did not immediately return a call for comment April 29.

Under terms of an agreement pending between the four parties, the three communities have agreed to drop their appeal before the Environmental Review Appeals Commission, a branch of state government that decides challenges Ohio Environmental Protection Agency decisions.

The communities filed their appeal of a permit to operate that was granted to Kimble in August 2006. The communities did not ask that the waste station be prevented from operating while the appeal was pending, and the facility began operations last July.

Under terms of the agreement, signed by Macedonia Mayor Don Kuchta, Twinsburg Mayor Katherine Procop and the Twinsburg Township Board of Trustees, the communities and Kimble agree they will make no "disparaging statements" about each other or the transfer station.

The parties also agree to establish a community advisory board to oversee operation of the facility.

"The purpose of establishing the board is to provide a forum for open dialogue between Kimble and the community," the settlement states.

Kuchta said the board will give the communities a chance to make sure Kimble is informed of any concerns that may arise. In opposing the facility, Kuchta and Procop said residents and businesses are concerned about potential noise, odor, polluted runoff and traffic congestion, but Kuchta said he hasn't received any complaints or noticed any odor.

However, "I haven't had the opportunity to check it out in warm weather," he added. "The yard is kept very neat. So far, they appear to be playing ball very well."

Kimble officials have said that since garbage would never be on site for more than 24 hours and most would be removed within 12 hours, the facility would be clean. Company officials have also said that added truck traffic would not increase greatly in the industrial area.

The 16,000-square-foot facility was issued a conditional-use permit in 2005 by the Twinsburg Township Board of Zoning Appeals, spurring opposition from the neighboring cities of Macedonia and Twinsburg.

The communities filed their appeal of the EPA permit after losing an administrative appeal of a permit granted the company by the Twinsburg Township Board of Zoning Appeals. The administrative appeal, filed in the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, earned a final decision in Kimble's favor in the Ohio 9th District Court of Appeals.

E-mail: emarotta@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3171