Three people spoke at a public hearing on a proposed solid waste transfer tonight before city council, a proposal the city will continue to go forward with, perhaps in a joint effort with the county.

Bill Dreitzler, North Carolina projects manager for ms consultants, told council before the hearing the comments gleaned would be used to help himself and the city determine the best out of the three final sites.

Allen Harvey, who lives off Airbase Road, said he wanted to know if the proposed facility would poison or harm well water and whether there would be a smell.

Winston Leornard, who lives off Highway 158 about two miles from site 2, the old landfill site, said he remained opposed to the project.

"I sent my concerns to city council and the chairman of the county commissioners," he said. "I stand by them. The city operated a landfill in the 70s. If that's any indication what we can expect down the road I wouldn't like to see it."

Kimberly Laughrey said her vote would be none of the sites, especially if it is going to be another tax burden. "We already have $21 million worth of chickens that have yet to be hatched."

During a break between the end of the public hearing and the beginning of the regular council meeting, James Pierce, chairman of the county commissioners, said the county is interested in partnering with the city on the project. "There's got be a time frame with the lease on our current contract running out. We've got to look hard at it to get another way to lower our trash pick up bill. The only one we've got is Waste Industries. They just dictate what it costs us."

During further discussion of the matter later in the council meeting, City Manager Paul Sabiston said a task force between the city and county met earlier in the day and the county's desire to join in the project seems earnest.

Sabiston said more cost savings would be realized with a partnership and that could shift the location of the facility to the current county landfill site in the western part of Halifax.

The city is considering the following sites:

Highway 158 off Deep Creek Road, the old landfill site, which contains 10 acres of land the city owns. Early evaluation lists this as the top site although there are wetlands issues and the soil must be examined.

The industrial area behind Kennametal, a 30 acre parcel, which has access issues and would possibly need road improvements.

Highway 158 at the old airport opposite the former Harley-Davidson dealership. This site is 50 acres and the biggest issue is sewer.

In a recent memo to council,Dreitzler  wrote none of the sites need to be rezoned but would require conditional use permits, which do require public hearings.

The Deep Creek Road site, however, would require a roadway, which is estimated to cost $260,000 and $40,000 for water extension.

The industrial area in the Becker Industrial Park would require an access road estimated to cost $39,000.

The site near the old airport is in what Dreitzler described as a fairly residential area in which subdividing is not an option. “The city would have to buy the entire property.”

These three locations were narrowed down from seven finalists. While cost estimates for the transfer station are between $700,000 to $750,000, land acquisition costs remain unknown.

According to a memo from Sabiston to city council, the initial projections for revenues and expenses are based on a total volume 28,000 tons of solid waste per year.

The city’s own residential solid waste and debris accounts for approximately 7,200 tons per year, the remainder an estimate of the commercial waste in the city, the memo says.

The city estimates an increase in revenues over expenses with a transfer station of $102,071 to $282,814. “This gain in annual net income is greater than the original memorandum provided to you as a result of the interest rate for a loan has dropped from 4 percent to the new market rate of 3.05 percent and the term of the loan for the repayment of the facility was extended from 10 years to 20 years in accord with traditional loan terms for such facilities,” the memo states.