The DeWitt County Board over the past several months has been looking for an outside source to come in for inspections at the Clinton Landfill.

One option the Board has considered pursuing is having the local Health Department become a part of what is called a Delegated Authority Agreement  to do those inspections. Administrator at the DeWitt/Piatt Bi-County Health Department, Dave Remmert, explains many times the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (I-EPA) will delegate the authority of some of their responsibilities to local organizations.

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The County Board has been in contact with the Health Department about becoming that Delegated Authority through the EPA. Recently, Remmert spoke before the County Board's Land Use Committee. Remmert explains there are a few things that must come about before they are allowed to begin testing at the landfill. He says there is preliminary interest at the Health Department's level of becoming that Delegated Authority on behalf of the County Board.

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Remmert says they would have the ability to go in and inspect on a random basis. He also notes the Delegated Authority is much broader than just the landfill.

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It is likely the DeWitt County Board would be responsible for payment of the program through the host agreement with the landfill. The County's awaiting the Illinois EPA ruling as to who can receive the Delegated Authority. It's understood by Land Use Chair, Terry Ferguson, that only the County can receive the authority, however, Clinton WATCH group wants the DeWitt/Piatt Bi-County Health Department to have it.