CADILLAC, MI -- Cadillac Mayor Bill Barnett is speaking out against the idea of selling the Wexford County Waste Facility to American Waste.
“This new plan has 22 counties that can bring their garbage into Cadillac. It’s almost all of northern Michigan as we know it,” Barnett said.
Before the sale can be made, a new county-wide waste management plan must be approved.
County commissioners have already approved the idea, and it is now up to 21 municipalities to vote on the plan. If two-thirds of them vote yes, the sale can be made.
“A lot of the townships that I have talked to are not really ready to vote on this yet, so there is supposed to be a deadline by November first, which basically means we have 20 days,” Barnett said.
Despite the fact that the city of Cadillac makes up about one-third of the county’s population, they still only receive one vote on the issue.
“It’s very troubling to have only one vote on this out of 21 votes. We are one-third of the county, one-fourth of the tax base here… and it will effect us more than anyone,” the mayor said.
Barnett said the sale price has been set at approximately $3 million. However, there are other incentives that could be worked in for the county.
