Economic development and trash disposal

UPDATE: Councilman Zack Matheny will reportedly not participate in the solid waste vote because of an indirect conflict of interest.

ORIGINAL POST: When I bumped into Greensboro District 5 Councilwoman Trudy Wade before a community budget meeting tonight, she informed me that I had misquoted her remarks about economic development and the White Street Landfill during Tuesday's work session.

Contrary to what I wrote, she said she had not asked staff to look into extending Cone Boulevard to provide an alternative entrance to the landfill. She pulled out a map that shows the future Cone Boulevard extending eastward through two "future economic development area[s]" skirting the north side of the landfill. The more easterly economic development area would be at the interchange with the future Urban Loop. Under this plan, the entrance to the landfill would be from Ranking Mill Road, in contrast to the current entrance at White Street, which is near the Nealtown Farms area.

Wade added that once the city recovers its share of the money from the dissolved city-county joint water and sewer funds, the city could invest the money into infrastructure in the area.

Later, I asked if this map was provided by Gate City Waste Services, one of three companies proposing to reopen the landfill. She responded that it was drawn by an engineering company, but didn't have any information about who paid for it or what purpose it was created for. She added that District 2 Councilman Jim Kee has a copy and he might be able to provide more information about its origins.

The map looks strikingly similar to a glossy card-stock map distributed by Gate City Waste Services during their presentation to council in March. Part of the company's pitch is to "minimize impact on adjacent neighbors" through "relocation of landfill entrance."

After the community budget meeting, Wade summoned at-large Councilman Danny Thompson to talk about "economic development" and spread out the map on a table in the back of the room.

Gate City Waste Services is the only local company among the three proposers. Two of its partners, DH Griffin Sr. and David Griffin Jr., are contributors to Mayor Bill Knight's 2009 election campaign. The city attorney is currently researching to determine whether at-large Councilman Robbie Perkins and District 3 Councilman Zack Matheny have a conflict of interest and should be recused from voting on solid waste because of business involvement with DH Griffin, the demolition company owned by the father and son.