Opponents of project confront council

Joan Wheeler addresses county council on behalf of McKowns Mountain residents opposed to Waste Management's landfill proposal. Joan Wheeler is known as a straight-to-the-point kind of person.

In keeping with that reputation, she pointedly asked Cherokee County Council members, "How many of you have ever seen a pretty landfill?"

Council members declined to answer but her question drew the cheers of more than 70 people who appeared at Wednesday's Cherokee County Council meeting to oppose Waste Management's planned construction of a $150 million recycling center and landfill on a 1,550-acre site in McKowns Mountain.

In order to move forward, Waste Management must obtain approval from Cherokee County Council members, whose present solid waste management plan bans new landfill construction without their approval.

Wheeler, acting as the spokesperson for the group, also pointedly noted that Waste Management had been fined by the Environmental Protection Agency and sued by several municipalities, including Dayton, Ohio and Austin, Texas.

"I'm not sure you want to be involved with a company with this kind of suspect background," said Wheeler, a retired school teacher and former Cherokee County Republican Party chairperson.

Wheeler said McKowns Mountain residents, whom she described as "good people," have had other runins with projects that threatened their community and lifestyles.

Three decades ago, Duke Power planned to build a nuclear reactor near the proposed landfill and recycling center, forcing the relocation of several families. Duke then abandoned its plan, she said.

In the 1980s, Wheeler said the McKowns Mountain community successfully fought another company's desire to build the "biggest incinerator in the world."

Two years ago, Duke Energy announced plans to build a nuclear power station at its former site, she said.

Now, the battle is with Waste Management, which she said wants to open up some of the county's remaining forest land for construction of a landfill and recycling center.

"Do we need to put something in McKowns Mountain?" she asked. "Why not leave some forest land?"

According to Wheeler, the group has a petition with 896 names of people who oppose the project.

Wheeler concluded her remarks by asking council members to give serious attention to her group's concerns.

An interested onlooker at the meeting was Gaffney native Bob Peeler, the former lieutenant governor who is now the manager of community and municipal relations for Waste Management.

Peeler didn't address council members, but commented on Wheeler's remarks after the meeting.

"I respect people's opinions," Peeler said. "We look forward to making our case."

Peeler has made his case in appearances before local organizations over the past two weeks and will present his proposal to the Cherokee County Development Board on Monday.

Peeler said there are informational meetings planned throughout the county.

He added no date has been set for when Waste Management will ask council for its approval.

Councilman Bailey Humphries said Wheeler made some pertinent points.

"They have legitimate gripes," he said. "Most of the people there go back for generations."

Councilman Charles Mathis, who represents the district where the landfill and recycling center will be built, has already made up his mind.

"I just think it's too much," he said.