Local officials want court to put businessman in jail

CELINA - Mercer County-Celina City Board of Health officials want a court to send a local businessman to jail and partially shut down his waste-hauling operation.

Owner Greg Gargis has failed to comply with previous court orders to remove excess waste from his facility, Environmental director Michelle Kimmel said, adding the amount of solid waste at the site has actually increased. The department first received complaints about the site in March 2010 and took the issue to the court in November 2013.

Kimmel Wednesday updated health commissioners on the court case involving Dumpsterman Containers Services, 6890 Staeger Road, Celina.

Kimmel, who attended a Wednesday morning court hearing on the issue, detailed a proposed order pending before the Celina Municipal Court. Both sides have agreed to the terms, but the order still needs to be signed by Judge James Scheer.

The order mandates that Gargis immediately stop accepting waste at the site.

"There should be no more waste hitting the ground for any reason," Kimmel said.

The order also mandates that Gargis post signs alerting the public of the ban and that he remove $2,500 worth of debris per month until the site is completely "cleaned up." Kimmel estimated the removal could take up to three years.

Gargis would also serve two days in jail within the next 30 days for failing to comply with earlier court orders.

Gargis Wednesday afternoon told the paper he feels the jail time is a "ridiculous" measure.

"The health department wanted to make an example out of me so people know that the health department isn't messing around. The sentence is something the new health commissioner insisted on," Gargis said. "I've been cooperative. I didn't shoot anybody. I'm 65 years old, and I've never been in jail a day in my life."

Gargis said he fully plans to comply with any court order, although he fails to see any value in the jail sentence.

"I don't think it does anything to help clean up the site. I don't think it does anything to help a business that's supposed to generate $2,500 a month to clean up debris," he said.

"There's no money in recycling. We came here to make a difference at the landfill, but there's no way a small business like ours can float the money to recycle," Gargis said.

The approaching warmer weather has created new concerns about the site, Kimmel said.

"There are tons of raccoon tracks around the site already and other animals will be coming to the site looking for food. Also, with the warmer weather, we are concerned about the smell," she said.

She felt the court order would be "a step in the right direction," Kimmel said, but she "would like to have seen more done to expedite the process."

In other business, board members,

• approved a contract with Lochte Technology Ltd. of Celina to redesign the health department website.

According to health commissioner Amy Littin, the current website is outdated and not user-friendly.

Lochte's bid was $800 for the redesign. Elevation Web Solutions of Washington, D.C., submitted the only other bid at $10,350.

• heard from Kimmel the department will accept applications for the recently vacated sanitarian position until April 27.

The position became available after sanitarian Chris Miller resigned, effective April 7. He had worked for the department for more than 12 years.