OTTAWA — A Topeka company has put its plan on hold to put an asphalt plant on 15th Street at I-35. Instead, Bettis Asphalt and Concrete are working on an alternate proposal to lease 15 acres from the county on Osborne Terrace across from the transfer station, said county planner Larry Walrod. The county bought the 40-acre site across from the existing transfer station several years ago to be the new landfill when the present one is closed. However, at the current rate the present site is being filled the county won’t need the site for another 20 years, said solid waste director John Hiatt. Bettis would put its asphalt plant in the northwest corner of the plot and won’t be in the way of county operations, Hiatt said. Because the site would be used to create profits for a private business, the county would have to pay property taxes on the site, even though it’s publicly owned. Bettis would lease 15 acres on the site for 10 years but pay property taxes on the entire tract, said company attorney Rich Eckert. Commissioners have said they were agreeable to the new proposal and have instructed county administrator and counselor Derek Brown to work out terms of a lease. However, commission chair Colt Waymire said although commissioners are agreeable, they would follow proper procedure which includes referring it back to the county planning commission first. Eckert said the company would like to move in equipment and begin operations in April.
Thursday, Feb. 9, 3 p.m.
