By Steve Huffman

shuffman@salisburypost.com

SPENCER — The town of Spencer has joined a group of local municipalities that have started hauling trash to the Rowan County Landfill.

Barry Pruett, Spencer's director of public works, told members of the Board of Aldermen at their monthly meeting Tuesday that the town's trash is now being hauled to the county landfill in Woodleaf.

That's because a transfer station operated by Waste Management in East Spencer has closed, Pruett said. Previously, Spencer's household trash was hauled to the transfer station where it was transferred to other trucks for disposal in a landfill adjacent to Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord.

Pruett warned aldermen that the cost of transporting trash to the county landfill will be considerably higher than hauling it to East Spencer. He said Wednesday he hasn't figured an exact amount the longer drives will cost the town, but said each trip to and from Woodleaf takes about an hour.

Pruett said Waste Management officials initially told Spencer that the East Spencer closing would be temporary, but he said he was told recently that the station is permanently closed.

Waste Management officials did not return phone calls from the Post.

In other matters handled at Tuesday's meeting, Spencer aldermen:

- Heard a presentation from Rebecca Yarbrough, assistant director of the Centralina Council of Governments, concerning The CONNECT Regional Vision and Action Agenda.

- Waived a six-month moratorium on hirings in order to begin the process of hiring two police officers. Aldermen said the hirings will only bring the police department back to full staff, and may save the town money since it will no longer have to pay remaining officers overtime and provide them comp time.

- Approved the purchase of a new Ford Crown Victoria police cruiser. The cost isn't to exceed $26,000.

Alderman Bishop said he approved the purchase, but said the town may want to begin studying how more fuel-efficient four-cylinder cars might serve the town.

Mayor Everhart said newer and smaller isn't always better, noting that 30 years ago, there was a move to start using AMC Hornets as police cruisers. "That didn't last long," Everhart said.

- Approved the closing of the 100 block of Fifth Street beginning at noon Aug. 23 for the Spencer Jaycees annual street dance. The noise ordinance will also be waived for the dance.

- Appointed Lisa Eason and Dawn Bartlett to serve three-year terms on the Community Appearance Commission.

- Appointed Jeff Kiker to a three-year term on the Planning Board.

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