Waste Management officials to discuss project with county development board

Waste Management officials should brace themselves for questions in an appearance today before the Cherokee County Development Board.

The company announced earlier this month it wants to build a solid waste and construction debris landfill along with a modern recycling center on a 1,550-acre parcel near McKowns Mountain.

The project already has met with opposition from McKowns Mountain residents, who packed a Cherokee County Council meeting last week to protest the project.

Today, Waste Management officials will likely find a more open-minded audience.

Development Board Director Jim Cook said Gaffney native and Waste Management Manager of Community and Municipal Relations Bob Peeler will deliver his presentation in open session. His remarks will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

Cook said the questions will likely center on the project's impact on existing and future industries as well as the life span of the project.

Companies typically appear before the Development Board seeking tax breaks. The Board then forwards a recommendation to Cherokee County Council.

But Cook said the Development Board has no plans to make a recommendation at today's meeting.

The meeting will take place at noon in room 101 of the Spartanburg Community College Cherokee Campus's business training center.