THOMASVILLE — For close to 50 years, Thomas County commissioners and Thomasville City Council members have attempted to come to a monetary agreement on the local landfill.

The 600-acre property is owned by county government, and the landfill operation is carried out by the city.

Thomas County commissioners this week approved an agreement that states the city will pay county government $25,000 a month — $300,000 annually — from landfill proceeds.

The agreement is on the Monday Thomasville City Council meeting agenda for consideration.

The document states that in the mid-1990s, the city began to explore the possibility of accepting solid waste from entities outside Thomas County. The city began accepting solid waste from elsewhere, resulting in a surplus, according to the agreement.

A new agreement came in 1997, followed by a revised agreement in 2002.

The new amended agreement becomes effective Jan. 1, 2021.

The 2002 agreement was a profit-sharing plan, said Mike Stephenson, county manager. The county commission chairman and Thomasville mayor met to determine if there was a surplus.

“Over the years, we received a profit of $200,000 to $300,000,” Stephenson said, adding that the money was split between the two governmental entities.

In recent years, no money was shared, he said.

From the county’s point of view, it was thought that since the landfill is on county land that cannot be used for anything else, the county is due some consideration, the county manager said.

Stephenson said a new agreement has been discussed for more than a year, while the city has continued to receive all revenue from the operation.

County government will not participate in management of the facility.

“I think it’s a good deal and good for everyone,” Stephenson said.

The agreement was a topic at a Wednesday city council workshop.

“As you know, this relationship goes back to the ’70s,” Tim Sanders, city attorney, told the council.

Sanders said the city on October 1 will assume all liability for the landfill — “a reasonable request since the city operates the landfill.”

County government will be charged the same landfill tipping fees as the city and other governmental entities, the city attorney said.

 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820