The Southeast Berrien County Landfill has decided to make Sonny Fuller its new permanent general manager.

The landfill authority board voted 10-0 this week to name Fuller, the current interim manager, the permanent landfill chief.

Board member Bill Weimer said the board is working to negotiate a contract with Fuller before its next meeting on July 20.

“We are extremely happy with Sonny,” Weimer said. “He’s doing a great job for us.”

Fuller, who had been in the interim role since February, has been key in turning the landfill’s finances around, according to Weimer.

Fuller has also helped spearhead the talks between landfill officials and EnerTech, a waste-to-energy company that is hoping to be granted a long-term lease of 22 acres of landfill property in order to convert the trash into synthetic diesel fuel.

The board has sent a letter of intent to EnerTech and is in negotiations with the company.

Also at this week’s landfill board meeting, David Hagey was named board chairman, taking over for Weimer, who will remain on the board.

The landfill, located on Mayflower Road in Bertrand Township, is owned by Niles, Buchanan and Bertrand townships and the cities of Niles and Buchanan.