BATAVIA, OHIO (Oct. 31, 2025) - Clermont County officials on Friday announced the start of a 12-week process to remove a large illegal dumpsite on Route 28 in Goshen Township.

"The cooperation of many state and local agencies working tirelessly made this cleanup possible," Desmond Maaytah, executive director of the Clermont County Land Bank, told the crowd gathered adjacent to the seven-acre site. "Many of the people you will hear from today represent organizations involved with this project from the beginning. They have worked countless hours to bring this site into compliance."

→ View a recording of the news conference on You Tube.

State, county and township efforts to clean up the dump date back 17 years. The Clermont County Health Department first issued orders on the property in 2008. Most of the land was previously owned by Donald W. Combs, who was prosecuted by the state of Ohio and served time in prison on criminal charges related to his operation of the illegal dump.

The property ended up in foreclosure with no buyers at auction. The court granted the Land Bank possession in 2024. The Land Bank expects to prepare the site for redevelopment once cleanup is complete.

The dumpsite is located across from the street from Eagle's Nest Golf Course, which is expected to be redeveloped into a 163-acre residential and commercial complex.

Cleanup and environmental remediation is expected to take at least three months and will require the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's oversight and review. The EPA's final approval is expected in 2026.

The dumpsite is littered with an estimated 24,000 tons of waste. Multiple piles of construction materials, tires, hazardous waste, including asbestos, and other debris tower more than 20 feet high in spots.

Drew Cavinee, project manager for the contractor removing the waste, said he expects his crews for Buckeye Elm Contracting to haul out as many as 40 truckloads a day five days a week for at least two months, possibly three. The waste is being taken to a special landfill that handles hazardous materials. Environmental consultant Patriot Engineering has installed wells to test for groundwater contamination.

The Ohio Department of Development last year awarded the Clermont County Land Bank nearly $2.5 million in grant funding to clean up the site. The grant, which is funded through the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program, includes a local match of $500,000 by the Land Bank and Goshen Township.

Speakers at the news conference on Friday included:

• David Painter, Vice Chair, Clermont County Land Bank Board of Directors
  President, Clermont County Commissioner
• Claire Corcoran, Clermont County Commissioner
  Former Goshen Township Trustee, 2012-2015
• Mark Tekulve, Clermont County Prosecutor
• Bob Hausermann, Trustee, Goshen Township
• Tyler Braasch, Director of Water & Waste
  Clermont County Board of Health
• Michael Weinstein, Environmental Consultant
  Regional Environmental Manager for Ohio and Kentucky
  Patriot Engineering and Environmental, Inc.

The Ohio EPA cleaned up a related, illegal dump on nearby Parker Road in 2024. That cleanup included the removal of 1,700 tons of material. The property was later sold at a foreclosure auction.

About the Clermont County Land Bank

The Board of County Commissioners established the Land Bank to remediate distressed properties, enhance safety and improve the quality of life for local communities. The Land Bank has demolished over 100 blighted residential, commercial and industrial properties since it began operation in July 2022, transforming vacant, abandoned and tax-delinquent properties into productive community assets.