Officials hopeful landfill money will be distributed by end of September

RINGTOWN – Several municipalities this week took action that could clear the way to release the North Schuylkill Landfill Association’s more than $3 Million from limbo.

Ringtown borough, Union Township, Mahanoy City borough, and Frackville borough all approved a release agreement this week and Shenandoah is expected to do the same next week.

Officials are hopeful that checks may be distributed by the end of September, ending an impasse dating back over a year.

“This was finally ironed out,” Union Township Solicitor Robert Matta said Tuesday. “As I understand it, the funds will be distributed by the end of the month.”

Union Township Supervisor Dave Briggs is the president of the landfill association and maintained that the equal distribution between all 17 members had been agreed upon previously.

A few municipalities then put up roadblocks, objecting to the distribution to four municipalities whose “charter” status is disputed.

“It’s just a shame somebody had to put a wrench in the works, but now it’s going to come through,” Briggs said.

Matta added that state law dictates that, for an organization like the NSLA, the majority rules and he doesn’t foresee another roadblock.

One of the municipalities that had been objecting, Frackville borough, voted to approve the release agreement at their regular meeting on Thursday.

Each of the 17 municipalities are expected to receive a little more than $200,000 from the more than $3 Million the landfill association still has.

There are 17 member municipalities: Delano Township, East Union Township, Frackville, Gilberton, Girardville, Mahanoy City, Mahanoy Township, Ringtown, Rush Township, Ryan Township, Shenandoah, Union Township, West Mahanoy Township, McAdoo, Ashland, Gordon, and Butler Township.

The association was originally formed to own and operate a municipal landfill near Turkey Run. When new environmental regulations made the landfill’s operation prohibitive, a transfer station was built nearby and operated by the association until around 2009. Since then, the association has been in limbo.

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