Councilman Opposes Plan to Sell Landfills

Officials’ concerns over the county’s proposal to sell landfills could lead to a City Council resolution against the plan.

Councilman Kenneth Blake said such a sale could mean that Orange County cities might have to pay higher trash disposal rates. The council today is likely to approve a resolution urging the Board of Supervisors not to sell the landfills, he said.

“It’s a hot issue right now,” Blake said, pointing out that the Orange County division of the League of California Cities last week went on record as opposing the sale.

Blake, who has represented La Palma on a committee studying the landfill issue, said he thinks the City Council will support the league’s position.

“The reason cities want to keep public ownership . . . is that we’d virtually lose control as to what the gate fees would be” under private ownership, Blake said. “By keeping it public and having cities work out an agreement with the county, we could control the inflow of imported waste.”

Blake said Orange County cities hope to negotiate long-term landfill fees with the Board of Supervisors.

Other topics likely to come before the council today are unleashed dogs and noisy leaf blowers.

Councilwoman Eva Miner Bradford said she will raise those issues because many residents have complained to her about lax enforcement of leash laws and the lack of a leaf blower ordinance.