How often do we hear that government should run like a business? The implication is that businesses must be efficient, deliver a quality service and be competitive to survive.

Chautauqua County government embraces these principles as evidenced by one such operation classified as an enterprise account: the Chautauqua County Landfill. It has been in the news recently because the landfill received New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) permit approval to construct new disposal cells in order to remain viable for the next 20 years.

The Chautauqua County Landfill and a County Solid Waste Management Plan were established in 1977, which enabled the county to conform with state environmental regulations for responsible disposal of solid waste, allowed the closing of over 40 “open dumps” operating throughout Chautauqua County, and provided an alternative at an affordable cost.

This municipal-owned and operated facility continues to provide the following benefits:

Low-cost solid waste services for the entire population of Chautauqua County including industrial, commercial, and construction industries.

Funding for mandated recycling operations and educational services for the county’s youth, residents, and businesses.

Financial assurance for the post-closure monitoring and maintenance of the landfill.

Funding for the operations of four transfer stations that accept waste and recyclable materials in a manner convenient to all county residents.

Organizing and financing Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Earth Day clean-up events.

Financing and performing ground-monitoring and maintenance for closed landfills elsewhere in the county.

Developing and maintaining a landfill gas collection system, which supplies the county- owned landfill-gas-to-energy plant. This energy generates over $1 million annually for the county’s general fund, which helps keep property taxes lower.

Offers all municipalities in the county annual landfill credits for free disposal to assist with the cost of demolition projects.

Approximately 35 percent of total waste comes from out-of-county users with the explicit purpose of maximizing the efficiency of the landfill’s operations and keeping in-county resident fees low. It is important to understand that if our landfill closes due to no new capacity, the costs to maintain the existing landfill waste will remain and waste disposal fees would significantly increase as all county waste would be trucked out of the county to private landfills.

New cells will provide a safe, cost-effective means of disposal to the residents and businesses of Chautauqua County for the next 20 years; are consistent with the County’s Solid Waste Management Plan, and are an important factor in the retention and creation of jobs in our county. It is also important to understand that the landfill project would not increase the current volume of waste received per day, but rather would extend the useful life of the landfill. Furthermore, the new cells that are also termed the “expansion” do not require the purchase of additional land; they are all within the current boundary of the Chautauqua County Landfill property. The landfill property boundary provides an adequate buffer to surrounding residential properties.

The Chautauqua County Landfill is a state-of-the-art operation closely regulated and monitored by the state DEC according to rigorous environmental standards. This independent regulatory agency ensures compliance and investigates all public complaints. Detailed record keeping and reporting ensure accountability to protect the environment, health, and safety of the community.

Past discussions with representatives of the Ellery Town Board reveal that one of their desires is to receive a large financial payment from the county. That payment would be almost two-thirds of the town’s annual budget starting in 2018. In an attempt to be a good steward and neighbor to the town of Ellery, the county made a reasonable host agreement offer. That offer would help offset the costs of its town park and assist other environmental projects. The offer was rejected and the town has now brought a lawsuit against the DEC and county challenging the DEC’s environmental review and the granting of DEC permits to the county.

It is very disheartening that county taxpayers are now forced to bear the burden of significant legal costs to defend our very successful operation especially when regional solutions to our challenges are putting our county on the right path forward.

Vince Horrigan is Chautauqua County executive.