'We need a transfer station for Rutherford County': Commission backs $20M solid waste plan

Scott Broden, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal
Updated ·5 min read

Rutherford County will gain a $20.3 million solid waste transfer station to drop off collected waste before hauling it out, officials recently decided.

Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr and other leaders recommended the financing approval by the County Commission to pay for the transfer station. The project is supposed to prepare the government to haul trash and recycling materials out of the county before the private Middle Point Landfill closes within four years on adjacent land.

Commissioner Craig Harris prior to the vote on Aug. 17 questioned the plan to build a transfer station on county property off East Jefferson Pike in the Walter Hill community on the northside. Harris suggested the mayor should talk to Murfreesboro officials about working together on solid waste plans before the county builds a transfer station.

"Build this together," Harris said. "That conversation has to happen."

Craig Harris, the chairperson of the Rutherford County Commission Steering, Legislative & Governmental Committee heads a meeting on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, where the idea about possibly establishing a board to oversee the Juvenile Detention Center was addressed. Oversight of the Juvenile Detention Center is currently under the authority of Juvenile Court Judge Donna Scott Davenport.

Commissioner Michael Kusch took issue with what Harris said and suggested that Carr has been communicating on a regular basis with Murfreesboro officials on solid waste plans that include the city also building a transfer station on the southside off Butler Drive.

Michael Kusch
Michael Kusch

"I wish you would quit stirring up the mud," Kusch told Harris.

Middle Point officials with BFI Waste Systems of Tennessee estimated in November 2022 that the landfill would be full by July 2027. BFI, which is part of Arizona-based Republic Services, had proposed a 99-acre expansion of the 203-acre landfill. BFI, however, lost a court ruling Friday that upheld a July 2021 decision by the Central Tennessee Regional Solid Waste Planning Board that rejected the expansion plan.

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The first of a series of community Open Houses by Middle Point Landfill to discuss the long-term community vision on Monday, July 17, 2023, was held at Dot & Lucy’s in Lascassas.
The first of a series of community Open Houses by Middle Point Landfill to discuss the long-term community vision on Monday, July 17, 2023, was held at Dot & Lucy’s in Lascassas.

Consultant study recommends 2 transfer stations

Kusch also suggested that 80% of what Harris was saying was hearsay.

"He does not have the facts," Kusch said.

Kusch recalled how the county commission and Murfreesboro City Council split $250,100 in costs to hire consultant that recommended that two solid waste stations be built.

"To have peace, you have to prepare for wars," Kusch said. "This is strategy. Please vote for (transfer station funding)."

Kusch and Harris had a tense exchange of words after the meeting while many people were still mingling in the courtroom.

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Commissioner McAdoo: 'We don't need partners' on transfer station

Kusch's position during the meeting had strong support from Commissioner Allen McAdoo, who also urged support for the transfer station.

The county needs a back up plan for when Middle Point Landfill closes and not depend on the Murfreesboro government officials building a transfer station, McAdoo suggested.

"We're at their mercy," McAdoo said. "We need a transfer station for Rutherford County."

Rutherford County Commissioner from District 18, Allen McAdoo, on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019.
Rutherford County Commissioner from District 18, Allen McAdoo, on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019.

The commission should decide who can dump at the transfer station and what the rates will be, McAdoo added.

"We don't need partners," McAdoo said. "We need to be in charge, so that we can be the one that call the facts."

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Second roll call votes to allow unanimous decisions on transfer station

Harris joined the majority in the initial 19-1 vote for the transfer station funding with only Commissioner Paul Johnson opposing. Harris, however, then joined Johnson in voting against a more detailed financing motion that described how the county would pay for the principal and interest for the $20.3 million bond to build the transfer station.

By the end of the meeting, Commissioner Anthony Johnson called for a process to allow Paul Johnson, who had second thoughts of his initial votes, to formally change positions on the two roll call votes on the transfer station financing. Both Paul Johnson and Harris each joined unanimous 20-0 decisions.

This image shows a Dec. 14, 2022, inspection photo of Middle Point Landfill by a Tennessee Department of Environment inspector Keith May.
This image shows a Dec. 14, 2022, inspection photo of Middle Point Landfill by a Tennessee Department of Environment inspector Keith May.

Anthony Johnson said after the meeting that he proposed the process to smooth over relationships of the county officials.

"There's been a lot of animosity for whatever reason," Anthony Johnson said. "It's got to stop."

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Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @ScottBroden. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.

By the numbers: Middle Point Landfill

  • Size of existing landfill: 207.3 acres

  • Height of landfill: 234 feet

  • Additional height allowed by state permit: 80 feet

  • State-permitted cubic yards of waste allowed: Nearly 38.8 million

  • Proposed expansion: 99.45 acres

  • Proposed additional cubic yards of waste under expansion: 32 million

  • Percentage increase in cubic yards of waste if allowed: 82.5%

  • Estimated trash hauled by Rutherford County government in 2021: 49,000 tons

  • Estimated trash hauled by Murfreesboro government in 2021: 51,000 tons

  • Estimated trash hauled by private commercial haulers in county in 2021: 270,000 tons

  • Estimated trash hauled to landfill from Rutherford County in 2021: 370,000 tons

  • Estimated trash dumped at landfill from other counties in 2021: 750,000 tons

  • Estimated total tons in 2021 dumped at landfill: 1.1 million

Source: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and Bishop Wagener, Rutherford County solid waste director

About Rutherford County Commission

  • Number of elected Rutherford County Commission members: 21

  • Authority of commission: approve tax and funding plans for Rutherford County government and school district operations

  • Commission committees: Steering, Legislative & Governmental, Budget, Finance & Investment, Health & Education, Public Safety, Public Works & Planning, Property Management and Purchasing

  • Other boards with commission representation: Rutherford County Regional Planning Commission, Benefits & Insurance Committee, Audit Committee, Agriculture Advisory Board, Community Care Board, Opioid Board

  • Length of terms following elections, including August 2022: four years

  • Where do commissioners meet: Rutherford County Courthouse in center of Murfreesboro's downtown Public Square

Source: Rutherford County government website

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Middle Point Landfill expected closure leads to transfer station plan