Council approves further testing at Florence landfill - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

The Florence City Council approved a resolution to allow further testing at the landfill.

The resolution allows Joyce Engineering to begin testing ground water at the landfill for pollution.

Testing continues even though the landfill is not taking in any more waste.

City council members said they have made the transfer station permanent and locked in a deal which saves the city money and allows for them to continue testing the land.

"We got a really good rate for the city to transfer the garbage to waste connections and it really has worked out well economically, well in money and liability savings," said council member Dick Jordan.

In November, the council voted to continue ground water testing to locate exactly where and if there is any pollution leaking into the environment.

Their resolution Tuesday night authorized the city to enter into a contract with Joyce Engineering, to "provide professional services necessary for the operation and closure of the Florence landfill."

Both Mayor Haddock and the city's solid waste director said the contract has nothing to do with the closure of the landfill; it will just allow the company to continue testing the ground water.

For the last 12 months, the city of Florence has been shipping garbage out of state to a regional landfill.

Once the company completes their testing, they will present their findings to the council.

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