THE ISSUES:

• A landfill constructed on sandy soil is leaching cancer-causing chemicals into the groundwater.
• Wexford County wants to bring in more trash from nine surrounding counties.
• Wexford residents pay some of the highest rates in the region for trash disposal...
• ... but industry pays some of the lowest rates.

At a time when dozens of Manton residents fear their water might be poisoned from a nearby landfill, there's a plan on the table to import even more trash from nine other counties.

The county commissioners of Wexford County say they are spending millions of dollars to protect against future pollution and can be trusted to oversee a landfill that won't leak toxins in the future. But residents feel the risks are too high.

This is a story of trying to balance big profits from the county-owned landfill with the health and property values of a small group of families in Cedar Creek Township.