Mike Stallard of Waste Management was not pleased when he recently received a letter from Orion Township implying that the Eagle Valley Recycling and Disposal Facility on Silverbell Road was not complying with methods set forward in the settlement agreement with the township over 10 years ago.
‘I was really pretty surprised,? he told board members on May 17. ‘We had no complaints in the first quarter and two in the second…We’ve tried to address them immediately.?
Stallard said the letter from the township board’s Eagle Valley closure committee was sent to an outdated Waste Management address and took a while to get to him, so he could respond.
‘We had a few weeks? lag just trying to get the township concerns to the right people,? he added.
According to Stallard, the township’s letter indicated the committee had convened to hear concerns of the township attorney and consultant regarding the landfill closure process.
‘I spoke with Ms. Kolb (township attorney) and I didn’t get the sense there were a lot of concerns,? Stallard said. ‘I think we need to get someone from Eagle Valley on the committee…We’d like to have a stronger dialogue with the township and keep small issues small.?
Stallard was concerned about the communication breakdown between Eagle Valley and the township.
‘I’d greatly appreciate a little more (input) with the committee, if that’s possible,? he said.
Clerk Jill Bastian said when residents contact the township regarding complaints about Eagle Valley, Waste Management might not be getting those same calls.
‘There were a number of complaints after the new administration took over,? she added. ‘When the committee talks about closure, we’ll definitely have Eagle Valley involved…The next step will be to try to have some productive discussions with Eagle Valley.?
‘Really my message is we want to be creditable members of the community,? Stallard said, adding that Eagle Valley would prefer better, more frequent communication in the future.
‘The township should send complaints to us promptly,? he added.