Ringtown, Ryan receive updates on Landfill Association wind-up
RINGTOWN – Some area municipalities received a update Monday night regarding the North Schuylkill Landfill Association.
At Ringtown Borough Council, Solicitor Robert Matta said he believed all of the municipalities were in agreement that the money would be distributed.
“My guesstimate is 60 days,” Matta said. “There’s a revised agreement that’s going to be circulated basically saying the same thing as the prior agreement.”
A meeting took place between the solicitors of each member municipality last week and, Thursday, Frackville conditionally approved a settlement agreement. Several member municipalities cited Frackville as the reason for the delay.
The North Schuylkill Landfill Association has existed in limbo since the landfill itself closed in 1990 and the transfer station built at the site was sold in 2010.
The association has been working toward winding down and dissolving. It has just over $3.5 Million on hand from a bond for the landfill and the proceeds from the transfer station sale.
Frackville is requesting a final audit of the funds as well.
Ringtown Borough Council approved the forthcoming agreement pending solicitor review.
“There were no roadblocks put up [at the meeting,]” Matta said.
He spoke of the legal aspects of the closure of the association and dispersal of the funds.
Matta said each member municipality will receive an equal share of funds.
“All the municipalities need the money, pure and simple,” Matta said.
Each member municipality will receive just over $200,000.
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.
One issue leading to the impasse was the charter status of four municipalities — McAdoo, Ashland, Gordon, and Butler Township. Though they had been previously designated as “non-charter” municipalities, NSLA Chairman and Union Township Supervisor Dave Briggs told the Sentinel last week that they are now considered charter municipalities.
Ryan Township supervisors also received an update Monday. That update, from solicitor Christopher Riedlinger, came behind closed doors at executive session, with Riedlinger noting he did not want to provide the update in the presence of the press.
The Shenandoah Sentinel was the ONLY local news source at this Union Township Supervisors meeting. The Sentinel has also been the ONLY news source covering both the North Schuylkill Landfill Association impasse from the start, as well as Ringtown Borough Council for several years. If you find value in our reporting and in knowing what YOUR local elected leaders are doing, PLEASE consider contributing to our efforts via Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee.
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