CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A resolution to approve a construction and development (C&D) waste grinding facility in Woodlawn was discussed at the latest Montgomery County Commission meeting, however, due to concerns from several commissioners, the proposal was voted down unanimously.

Kennedy Transfer Station LLC submitted the application with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) for a processing facility permit at 3500 Dover Road. The requirements for the permit include TDEC review and approval by the County Commission, who discussed the topic at their formal commission meeting Monday night.

Reducing Bi-County’s volume of C&D waste

According to documents submitted to the county, Kennedy Septic Tank Service is the largest producer of construction and demolition (C&D) debris for the Bi-County Landfill. The purpose of the processing facility is to reduce the volume of C&D waste being hauled to Bi-County.

“The plan is to bring loaded trucks from job sites and dump inside (the) proposed enclosure where it is run through a shredder that reduces the material to 2- to 3-inch pieces,” said the submitted documents. “The reduced material will be loaded into another container while the metal is pulled out and separated for recycling. We feel this will not only reduce the traffic entering and exiting the landfill, but also reduce the footprint of the material being brought in.”

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‘It really needs to be zoned industrial’

Commissioner John Gannon previously told the commission the plan was for the resolution to be deferred until next month. On Monday, Gannon told the commission that after further analysis, the resolution cannot be deferred, despite several concerns.

“We’ve looked at many of the ins and outs in all of this, and it’s led us down many roads. And the bottom line here for now, without getting too far in-depth … is that we have an obligation to protect Bi-County and make sure everything’s done right,” Gannon said. “That is our investment in there, and there’s millions of dollars and many families that live out there and depend on that salary.”

Gannon said the property where the processing facility would sit does not meet any of the zoning requirements, with its current C-5 zoning. “It really needs to be zoned industrial, and really as a M-2, or it will never be what they are trying to do right here. Those are our zoning requirements at this point in time. So, it’s just like a housing development, why would you pass it before it’s rezoned to do what it’s supposed to do? It’s a C-5; it really needs to be zoned up to industrial,” he said.

‘This would be very bad for Mr. Kennedy’

Gannon added that he understands what the applicant, Corey Kennedy,owner of Kennedy Transfer Station, is looking to accomplish, and he really can’t blame him. But there are other ramifications in play.

“Most of the way it (C&D) is done is by the yard, so it’s a container. So, construction and development is lumpy, so you always feel half-full in the bucket. Some people like to crush it and feel like they get their money’s worth out of it,” Gannon said. “That’s really what he’s trying to accomplish. He’s trying to do that, but there are other ramifications after he does that that we need to go for the protections on. … If we start selling it (C&D) by the ton instead of the yard, which means we’ll just get a scale out at Guthrie, this would be very bad for Mr. Kennedy. He would not want to do this.”

Gannon asked the commission to vote down the proposed resolution, and it was voted down unanimously.

Clarksville Now has reached out to Corey Kennedy for comment.

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