Taxpayers may have to foot bill for Agri-Cycle cleanup

TALMO- The possibility that taxpayers in Jackson County might have to foot the bill for the clean-up of the old Agri-Cycle site was raised at a town hall meeting in Talmo Tuesday night by one county commissioner.

Agri-Cycle is a now closed grease recycling plant that was shut down a couple of years ago for alleged violation of environmental laws.

Officials with the state Environmental Protection Division visited the site two weeks ago and found it flooded because of the all the recent rain, according to Gina Mitsdarffer, Jackson County's Public Development Director. Mitsdarffer went on to add all pumping equipment has been removed and EPD is concerned about how to remove the water.

The owner of the property, Richard Harville, has been ordered to clean up the area.

County Commissioner Bruce Yates said “ We have pushed them to stop doing what they were doing and we don’t want to push too hard.” He said that if the county pushes too hard the business could declare bankruptcy causing the burden to fall on the county and or local tax payers.

PROPERTY TAXES

Mike Dowd, a Jackson County resident, is concerned with the value of his property and the amount he is being taxed on it. Dowd said he's being taxed the same as in 2004 when the value of his house was much more. OtherS at the meeting, such as Robert Goodwin, sided with Dowd, saying they feel their property taxes are higher than they should be.

Kelley Gary Yates to try and appeal to the county tax assessors so that the homes will be valued at fair market value. Yates said he would strongly consider doing so.

2010 BUDGET

John Hulsey, Director of Finance for Jackson County, handed out information about the budget and went through an explanation of the $66 million document.

Yates asked Hulsey why Jackson’s budget is $66 million when Barrow County’s budget is only $33 million. Hulsey explained that in Jackson County’s budget they include things like enterprise funds that other counties don’t and he said the types of services the county offers will make a difference.