Old landfill may be new site for drilling

The gates at the old Steubenville landfill may be closed now, but that soon may not be the case.

According to City Manager Cathy Davison, the city hopes to lease the mineral rights to Hess Corporation over a five year period.

The ordinance that will allow this to happen will be introduced at a meeting Tuesday night at the Steubenville council chambers as an emergency ordinance, meaning all three readings can be done at this one meeting.

The terms of the agreement would give the city $5,400 per acre with the property having 117 acres. That means over $600,000 for the city. On top of that, Hess would give Steubenville 19 percent of royalties. After the five-year lease is up, the city has the option to renew the lease.

Because the landfill is outside of city limits, drilling is allowed to occur on the site. Some residents who live nearby are concerned about pollution well water and truck traffic on the roads, but others think it is still good for the city.

John Brown, a resident of Steubenville, said, "It's going to bring money into the area as far as jobs and everything, and it's going to help out the local economy. "

"It's hard to say. It would be great to see that money come into the city, but then you have to think about the people out there with the well water. Trucks, you know, messing up the roads. We have bad roads around here already," Richard Fletcher said.

Some residents already have plans for the money, including Brown.

"Hopefully, the city will fix our roads for one. And there is a lot of things they can do with tax breaks and let's face it, get some of the homeless off the streets."

Davison says the money from the lease will stay in the sanitation department's budget since it is coming from the landfill.

The ordinance could be passed and signed as early as next week.