Long-term cleanup plans at G&M tire dump in Atwood will revert back to the private sector upon completion of a six-month, state-mandated emergency cleanup, a state official said Tuesday.

But how soon another private group steps forward, most likely with state support, remains unknown.

That was the bottom line Tuesday night during a meeting hosted by Taxpayers Action Network at the Kosciusko County Justice Building.

The meeting featured Bruce Palin, a spokesman from Indiana Department of Environmental Management, who said the emergency cleanup at the in-town site should be completed in roughly six months at a cost of about $800,000.

So far, a contractor has removed about 1,000 tons of tires, all of which have been recycled either in New Liberty or at a facility in Wisconsin.

But eliminating the bigger pit located on the outskirts of town is a much more cumbersome task that could cost $3 million to $5 million to complete, Palin said. Estimates of the number of tires at the site range from 2 to 8 million.

Palin said the state is not currently pursuing a private sector arrangement, but is open to suggestions and continues to talk with local people about the issue.

The current cleanup is being funded by revenues generated from fines even though the state has money available from its 25-cent tire tax fund.

The tire tax generated $1.3 million in 1996, and two thirds of the fund is dedicated to the Indiana Department of Commerce, which provides grants and loans to firms willing to undergo waste tire cleanup projects.

Several people asked why the state just doesn't dedicate more money to the Atwood project. One woman pointed to the $1 billion surplus controlled by the state.

He urged people to talk to their state legislators, but added: "I'm sure there's a lot of other folks who would like to see that money spent on their particular projects."

And as for the funds available through the tire tax, Palin added: "It's going to take more than 25 cents a tire to do that."

The state is optimistic that markets will continue to develop for used tires. Crumb rubber asphalt, still in its infant stages in Indiana, could be an outlet for used tires.

Another industry that has begun to develop involves the use of shredded tires as a source for fuel.

But Palin noted that more tire-derived fuel operations exist outside of Indiana because other states have been more willing to subsidize those projects.

At least one person asked if the state would ever seek to collect an estimated $2.8 million fine levied against G&M owner Garry Baker. Those IDEM fines never were sought after Baker obtained state approval and began a recycling program last year.

That program fell apart, however, when Baker's investors walked away after an internal dispute.

After Baker's plan fell apart, the state stepped in and announced plans for the current emergency cleanup.

Baker, who attended the meeting, has pledged his support to work with the North Liberty contractor assigned to the cleanup, and said he is interested in becoming involved in addressing the out-of-town pit.

"It's still my responsibility," he said.

Fines against Baker seem to be all but moot.

"Our current focus is getting the site cleaned up," Palin said in reference to questions about the fines.

Palin and Baker both agreed the state would likely never collect the fines because Baker doesn't have the money.

Steve Haines, who made the Atwood tire dump a main issue in his bid for a state legislative seat last year, urged the state to take more action for fear of the potential fire hazard. He asked why the state hasn't worked to clear a fire lane into the heart of the tire pit in case a fire began.

Palin said it would be too difficult to reconfigure the tire pile to make room for a fire lane. [[In-content Ad]]